December 2021 

Hello,

As 2021 draws to a close I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and will have the opportunity to celebrate in this time of good cheer. I know that Laura and I are looking forward to time with family and friends.

The completion of any year is cause for reflection, and at your university we have much to be proud of and look forward to. As many of you are aware, Drake recently launched The Ones: Drake’s Campaign for the Brave & Bold. The response from the community has been one of excitement and pride at what this means for the future of our great institution. The hope and optimism this campaign brings is tangible and could not have come at a better time.

The campaign title – The Ones – pays homage to the collaborative process that helped shape our goals and forecasts that it will be all of us who will bring these aspirations to life. We will, consistent with our mission and inspiration statement, pursue economic, social, political, and environmental progress, and our advancements will demonstrate the full potential of Drake’s strength and influence. We have identified seven key pillars that will transform this wonderful place and make it exactly what a university can and should be in our modern world.

The Ones Campaign Priorities:

• Every Bulldog a Changemaker to empower students to embrace innovation and entrepreneurial thinking and be forces for good in their careers and communities.
• University for All to expand the promise of a Drake education to individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
• Ron and Jane Olson Center for Public Democracy to revitalize our national capacity for dialogue and democracy.
• University Center to build a visible, centralized, and welcoming hub of student activity at the heart of campus.
• Digital Proficiency Platform to prepare students to be powerful collaborators and leaders in using analytics and technology to spur positive results and organizational change.
• Jay N. Darling Institute to advance sustainable rural communities in which all citizens have access to opportunity and resources.
• Pursuit of Excellence to transform every day at Drake by fueling the core components of our institution, including our colleges, schools, and athletic programs.

Each of these initiatives features elements of scholarship, faculty/staff, facility, and curricular support in addition to targeted community impact strategies that will tap the incredible power and resources of Drake to solve problems and lead the way to a better future. We will be sharing more information about each of these exciting priorities in the coming months.

While our goals are ambitious, they are certainly attainable with the help of our generous community. I am happy to share that as of this month, we have already raised more than $111 million toward our $225 million dollar goal. If you have not already, I encourage each of you to spend some time learning more about the message and details of this campaign at our website: https://theones.drake.edu/. As some of our most dedicated supporters, your input, participation, and investment will be critical to the success of this campaign and our vision for the future. Drake is in this position of strength because of your generosity and engagement.

I hope you and yours are having a joyous holiday season and I am excited to enter a new year of opportunity and impact for Drake with your support.

Sincerely,

Marty Martin

President, Drake University

Year-end information from University Advancement:

The strong support of President’s Circle members like you is a driving force in Drake University’s ability to deliver on our mission promise to students and our community. If you have not already, please consider renewing your membership before 12/31/21. You can do so at alumni.drake.edu/giveonline. Gifts of stock are an excellent way to maximize both your support of Drake and your tax benefits.

Now is a particularly advantageous time to donate in this manner. You can learn more here: https://alumni.drake.edu/stockgift.

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