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GREENSBORO — When UNCG ended its five-year Student First Campaign fund drive Tuesday, the final tally was more than $115 million — well beyond its goal.

“We were counting every penny,” said Patricia Stewart, the school’s vice chancellor for university advancement.

The campaign launched in July 2004 with a goal of $78 million. The bar was raised to $100 million in 2006.

Stewart said that when that goal was reached last year, she and Chancellor Linda Brady decided to stretch it again.

“Though some of our local business and corporate gift giving has fallen by the wayside, we were still able to raise another $15 million,” Stewart said. “The final total was $115,346,891.”

Stewart said the money is needed in the face of steep budget cuts at the state level.

“Reaching our goal is an extraordinary achievement, and a tremendous testament to the generosity of our supporters and their belief in this university,” Brady said in a statement Wednesday.

“UNCG is a stronger university because of every gift that has been made to the Students First Campaign. Thousands of loyal supporters have brought us to a successful conclusion, and we are deeply grateful to them.”

The campaign has created 14 new professorships, 203 new undergraduate scholarships, 42 new graduate scholarships, and 155 program funds and student awards programs, Stewart said.

About $57.5 million came from about 14,000 alumni; $22.6 million from over 6,000 “friends,” including parents; $30.8 million from approximately 1,000 corporations, foundations and others; and $4.4 million from about 1,000 faculty and staff.

The approximately 22,000 donors gave most to undergraduate and graduate scholarships, which drew more than $75 million in gifts.

The campaign included a $6 million gift from an anonymous donor, which is being used to create a $4 million undergraduate scholarship fund, a $1 million graduate fellowship fund and a $1 million endowment for two distinguished professorships.

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com