October 20, 2007

Dear Members of the Penn Community,

Tonight, thousands of you — our extraordinary alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and friends — joined with me on our beautiful campus to launch Penn's first fundraising campaign in nearly two decades. Making History: The Campaign for Penn has an ambitious goal of $3.5 billion, and I have the pleasure of announcing that we have already raised $1.6 billion. I am truly overwhelmed by everyone's dedication to ensuring that our beloved university continues its impressive rise.

What we celebrated this evening was the beginning of what will be a five-year endeavor that will require the ongoing, thoughtful participation of our entire community. I promise you this: When we achieve our goal in 2012, we will hold the keys to an eminent and consummately interdisciplinary Penn that will have a vast, transformative impact on humanity.

A great campaign, however, is not just a goal to achieve or a distinction to reach; it is also a journey that strengthens the bonds of our fellowship while deepening our devotion to a great cause. As we begin this historic journey together, I could not wish for a greater cause or a more wonderfully passionate and vibrant community to serve.

I encourage you to take a moment now to visit our campaign website, www.makinghistory.upenn.edu, which will give you all the details about our vision, our priorities, and the many ways — financial and non-financial — that you can be involved in creating a magnificent future for Penn.

It is time to be making history. Let's do it together.

Amy Gutmann
President