Friday, February 18, 2011

Rosemary DePaolo, chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, today announced two major gifts to the university, one that is the largest outright gift the university has ever received and the other a significant gift to the Athletics Department. The gifts were highlighted as part of a press conference announcing The Campaign for UNCW: Soaring to Greatness, the university's comprehensive campaign to raise $65 million to benefit the university, its programs and its students, faculty and staff.

The largest outright gift in UNCW's history, which will primarily benefit the School of Nursing, is an endowment from the McNeill family, brothers John A. "Sandy" McNeill Jr. and Ronald B. "Ronnie" McNeill and their wives, Deborah S. McNeill and Cynthia J. McNeill, respectively. The largest percentage of the gift will support academic programs within the School of Nursing. In addition, Sandy and Deborah McNeill established a distinguished professorship in nursing, while Ronnie and Cyndi designated a portion of their gift to support academic programs in the Cameron School of Business.

"We believe in UNCW and its mission," said Sandy McNeill. "It is a great part of eastern North Carolina, and it certainly has helped fulfill the educational mission for college-level studies in this state and beyond. It is a fantastic institution."

"We are happy to be investing in the campaign and in the university that is so vital to our region," added Ronnie McNeill. "It is a proud moment for our family, although all of us agree that we do not want to make a lot of noise about it. The spotlight should be on the university, not on us."

In recognition of this significant gift and their history of support for UNCW, the university's Board of Trustees voted earlier this week to rename the Nursing Building as McNeill Hall in honor of the family.

"We could not be more excited and grateful about this gift from the McNeills," said DePaolo. "Their ongoing support for this institution, and their commitment of both time and resources, is truly extraordinary. I am thrilled by the lasting effect this transformative gift will have on the quality of our nursing programs, and I could not be more pleased that McNeill Hall has been named in their honor."

DePaolo also announced a significant gift from Sylvia H. and George Rountree III, one of the largest gifts UNCW has ever received in support of Athletics programs, which will be used for improvements to Trask Coliseum. In recognition of this gift, the Board of Trustees voted to name the men's basketball office suite for George Rountree III.

"This is such a wonderful show of support for our student-athletes and coaches," said DePaolo of the Rountree donation. "George and Sylvia have been Seahawks fans and donors for years. Their generosity at this time speaks volumes about their confidence in Athletics Director Jimmy Bass and the direction he's given to our program."

These two major gifts represent the latest contributions to The Campaign for UNCW: Soaring to Greatness, which reached $57.7million of its $65 million goal as of Jan. 31, 2011. The final phase of the campaign will end Dec. 31, 2012.

For more information about The Campaign for UNCW: Soaring to Greatness, go to www.uncw.edu/campaign.

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu