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Melbourne University plans biggest philanthropic campaign in Australian history

Xinhua, March 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

One of Australia's most prestigious universities is aiming to create the biggest philanthropic campaign in the nation's history by raising 1 billion Australian dollars (740 million U.S. dollars) in donations.

Melbourne University announced on Friday it had already reached the fundraising drive's original target of 500 million Australian dollars (367.6 million U.S. dollars) two years ahead of schedule.

Glyn Davis, the University's vice-chancellor, said the institution had revised its aspirations, and now plans to almost double that amount by 2021.

"Our intent has been to change the lives of future generations," Professor Davis said in a statement.

"We've been able to provide more than $150 million to educate tomorrow's leaders, $120 million towards enriching our communities, on top of the more than $230 million raised for groundbreaking research in areas including, melanoma and skin cancers, childhood mental health and human rights law," Davis said.

The university said it would be the biggest philanthropic campaign in Australian history and the biggest university fundraiser ever in the Asia Pacific.

While five major donors gave almost 15 percent to the fund, Melbourne University said it had received around 20,000 individual contributions since launching the initiative in 2013.

The next phase of the drive plans to mobilize more of the University's well-resourced alumni, which includes the likes of Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett and comedian Barry Humphries.

Most of the contributions were made by Australians, but Melbourne University also credited strong support from international donors in the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, China's Hong Kong and Britain. Endit