Northern launches fundraising drive

Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson

Montana State University-Northern Foundation CEO Shauna Albrecht carries paper lanterns across the Student Union Building Ballroom Thursday afternoon while setting up for the annual We Love Northern Ball, which begins Saturday at 6 p.m. in the SUB. The foundation hosts the ball.

Montana State University-Northern's Foundation sounded the call this week for alumni and friends to help them in "Lighting Up Our Future" — their new fundraising drive.

Just a few days before this year's We Love Northern Ball, the foundation announced the beginning of their capital campaign, to help with infrastructure on campus and to establish an endowment for scholarships.

The opening gift for the drive came from Independence Bank, which employs many Northern alumni, with a $100,000 donation.

Half of that donation will go to the endowment for scholarships for students.

According to the foundation's pamphlet for the drive, "more than half of our students currently receive some form of financial aid; therefore scholarships represent the key to accessing higher education. "

The other half will be split between infrastructure projects on campus, including the Athletics Complex, the Student Union Building and dormitories, Morgan and MacKenzie halls.

"The primary goal of the campaign is to raise money for infrastructure issues that will then help with recruitment and retention at the university, " Shauna Albrecht, CEO of the foundation, said.

The first phase of the total plan, which Albrecht said will span "probably over five years, " is to upgrade the Athletic center with a new gym floor, new bleachers and "a significant upgrade to the concession and lobby area. "

Albrecht said they should have drawings of what they want it to look like at the Northern basketball games against Carroll College Saturday, Feb. 18.

With the help of 70 community volunteers, the campaign will be led by local business leaders Cole Chandler and Dave Clausen.

The campaign's been a long time coming. Albrecht said this started with a feasibility study conducted in January 2010, where they interviewed alumni and community members to get an understanding of people's thoughts and feelings about the university and its future.

And the future is something Albrecht wants all Northern supporters to think about.

"I would like them to think about the importance of Northern, think about what an investment into our community and our institution could mean for the future, " Albrecht said. "We just want to encourage people to think about the future of this organization and support it. "

Anyone who wants to help out can reach the foundation by phone at 265-3711, online at http://www.msun.edu/foundation or by email at [email protected].

MSU-Northern Foundation capital campaign hopes to fund student scholarships and pay for a three-stage improvement plan:

Phase 1: Upgrade the Athletics Complex and Wellness Center, including a new gym floor, bleachers and more ADA compliant features.

Phase 2: Student Union Building, which "is in need of major renovations" after 50 years of use with "modest upgrades. "

Phase 3: Morgan and MacKenzie residence halls, which "are key to recruiting and retention. "