EIU Media Relations

New Foundation Board Understands, Embraces Financial Responsibility to EIU

Since its inception nearly 60 years ago, the Eastern Illinois University Foundation has focused on giving.

“The Foundation plays a very important role in supporting the university we care so much about,” said Timothy Burke, newly seated Foundation Board president.  “And the Foundation Board of Directors understands and accepts its responsibility to protect and grow the assets entrusted to us.”

That responsibility has grown by leaps and bounds over the past two years as Eastern engaged in its “EI&U:  Expect Greatness” capital campaign.  The expectation was that the campaign, which publicly began in October 2010, would run through June 2014 and raise $50 million for student, faculty/staff, program and facility support.  Response was so positive, however, that the university ended the campaign in September 2012 – two years early and $13.7 million over goal.

“The original goal of $50 million was eclipsed by almost $14 million – an accomplishment made possible through more than 43,000 individual gifts,” Burke said.  “Many of these individuals supported the campaign because of their desire to allow future students the same opportunities they had as a result of their EIU experience.”

As Foundation president, Burke will head an 11-person board of directors who, in turn, represents a 300-member organization.

Founded in 1953 under the leadership and direction of H. Ogden Brainard, the EIU Foundation has been dependent upon the generosity of its members to encourage and provide private support to the university and to promote the ideals of volunteerism and philanthropy among alumni, friends and employees of the university.

Burke, of Evanston, is joined on the Foundation Board by Christine Reid Robertson (vice president) of Naperville; William Robinson (treasurer) of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Judy Ethell (secretary) of Chesterfield, Mo.; Jason Anselment of Springfield; Michael Cunningham of Marietta, Ga.; H. Michael Finkle of Naples, Fla.; Timothy McCollum of Charleston; Sue C. Payton of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Janet Treichel of Reston, Va.; and Charles Witters of Las Vegas, Nev.

Additional Foundation members have been appointed as volunteer committeemen:  Scott Biermann of Clayton, Mo.; Cal Campbell and William Hill, both of Charleston; Rick Edwards of Arcola; Donald Gher of Bellevue, Wash.; Rick Ingram of Chicago; Alison Maley of Springfield; Tom Maskey of Fairfax, Va.; and James Schnorf of Longwood, Fla.

Volunteers bring an added dimension to board discussions and deliberations, and provide potential candidates for future vacancies on the board.