By Dan Wright, Daily News-Record

91¶ÌÊÓƵ spends millions of dollars in the Shenandoah Valley, provides hundreds of jobs and helps hundreds of people improve their business skills.

Of its $28 million budget for fiscal 2005-06, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ pumped $20.6 million into the Shenandoah Valley

91¶ÌÊÓƵ has received $6,585,205 in total contributions for the 2005-2006 fiscal year ending June 30, a 24 percent increase, or $1,293,843 more than last year.

Kirk L. Shisler, vice president for , reported that contributions of $1,730,000 to the set a new record, surpassing the 2005 annual fund total of $1,591,000 by more than eight percent. The University Fund supports student financial aid, funds for and other program budgets and the (CJP), Shisler noted.

Support for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s undergraduate and graduate programs included endowment giving of $1,651,000 and bequests and restricted grants of $3,154,000, Shisler noted. The increase by more than $1 million in endowment support “was largely the result of three major gifts to establish endowments for undergraduate faculty release time, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Eastern Mennonite Seminary,” he said.

Giving by 91¶ÌÊÓƵ alumni continued to increase both in total giving – $2,981,878 compared to $1,995,475 in 2004-05 – and in the number of donors at the $1,000-plus level, Shisler said.

Included in the giving totals are gifts from 175 91¶ÌÊÓƵ faculty and staff who supported the university with contributions of more than $112,000.

“In a host of unique ways, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ donors have responded with a resounding ‘Yes’! to our persistent, and hopefully gracious, invitations to join with the university in its transformative work,” Shisler said.

“91¶ÌÊÓƵ is blessed with the support of many alumni and friends who care deeply about our mission,” said President Loren Swartzendruber. “Our intent is to be good stewards of the investments donors make toward the education of our students. In addition to signficant financial support, we value the prayers of God’s people on our behalf.”