St. John's University Celebrates Conclusion of Record-Breaking, $271 Million Capital Campaign

It was a time for joyful celebration as nearly 350 of St. John’s loyal supporters gathered on June 15, 2006, to mark the end of the Campaign for St. John’s – Fulfilling the Dream initiative -- the most successful fundraising effort in University history.

“Tonight I am grateful to announce to you that, as of this moment, the Campaign for St. John’s has raised a staggering $271 million,” said Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President, told the honored guests at a gala dinner in the Taffner Field House.

The evening began with a concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Thomas More Church on the Queens campus. As principal celebrant, Rev. Harrington set the evening’s tone by affirming that “…our success is directly attributable to the hand of God. In the blessings that we see on our campuses, we can see the hand of God.”

Following Mass, the guests boarded trolleys for the short ride to the field house for the cocktail reception and dinner. The dinner, highlighted by a stunning video, detailed the numerous ways in which the success of the Campaign significantly impacted every aspect of the University.

From its inception, Rev. Harrington added, the Campaign was a reflection of St. John’s Vincentian mission. “Tonight is really not about the dollars,” he said. “It’s not about the buildings, or the labs, or the technology. It’s not so much about what we’ve done – it’s about who we are.”

Emphasizing the impact of the guest’s generosity, William Montgoris, a Campaign Co-Chair, declared “this campaign’s success guarantees that our legacy will live on in the lives of thousands of others…for generations to come.”

We invite you to relive the joy of our Campaign Celebration through the images captured in our Photo Gallery.