We were delighted to welcome over 130 alumni and supporters of the College at an event to mark the in-person launch of the College’s Development Campaign, Think Forward on Tuesday, 9 November. Hosted by the Master and the Churchill College Development Board, the event took place at the Churchill War Rooms in central London.
Our campaign focuses on the College and its people, and supporting future students, researchers and the sustainability of all the College’s operations by increasing our endowment.
The aim of the campaign is to raise £6million every year for these causes. Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Development Board, Michael Cowan (U70) said:
Our founder never saw the College built and opened but he did plant two trees on the site in October 1959. He noted that, ‘with neither a massive population, nor the raw materials nor adequate agricultural land, then we must depend for survival on our brains and skilled minds’.
His stated aim was, ‘to grow to shelter and nurture generations’ and to ‘add to the strength and happiness of our people’. Finally, and after the destruction of two World Wars he asked for the ‘peaceful progress of the World’.
The THINK FORWARD campaign is aimed at refreshing that original benefaction to ensure we have the ability for future sustainable accommodation and College buildings to provide the optimal ambience for innovative thinking and excellence in teaching and innovative research.
The President of the JCR, Amy Rees, a second-year law student spoke and thanked all those present and the College’s Fellows, staff and its donors for the support shown to all students during these past two difficult years. She added, ‘your support of the College and the Think Forward campaign really does means a lot to us – you can help the student community and future generations of Churchillians fulfil their potential, no matter what their background.’
The Master, Professor Dame Athene Donald noted that it is thanks to endowed funds and the prescience shown by previous generations that the College has come through the pandemic and is able to continue providing support for its students without having to cut back on educational and welfare provision.
Think Forward focuses on raising endowment to fund excellence in teaching and research. This includes funding for small group teaching that makes the educational experience in College renowned, and supporting all students at undergraduate and postgraduate level to fulfill their potential. Additionally the endowment supports operational costs, including maintenance of our site and improvement of accommodation.
To find out how you can help please email dev.director@chu.cam.ac.uk
The long-term aims of Think Forward are to grow the endowment by at least £60million in the next decade and secure the College’s long-term future. More information is available on our website.
