One-day fundraiser nets $1.18M

FORT MYERS — Florida Gulf Coast University raised $1.18 million during its inaugural one-day fundraiser.

One anonymous donor gave $1 million and 207 people participated in the one-day fundraiser to benefit student and university programs at the university. Of the total, 180 people donated online.

“Although we have a relatively young and smaller alumni population, their support of FGCU continues to grow year after year. We are blessed to have such great supporters for our students, faculty and programs,” says Chris Simoneau, vice president for advancement and executive director of the FGCU Foundation, in a statement.

The 20-year old university now has 15,000 students and 23,000 graduates. The campus is on 800 acres near Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.

“They understand the positive impact this institution makes upon the region and its residents and realize that their support helps to fortify that effort,” says Simoneau in the statement. “We are grateful for this outpouring of generosity as we work to reach the conclusion of our $100-million fundraising initiative.”