Dear Friends,

Your dedication and loyalty to Loras College are easy to quantify. We concluded this past fiscal year (May 31, 2007) with $6.9 million in cash contributions. This represents a 35% increase over the previous year. Thank you for your generosity!

Within this total, the Loras Fund achieved a record level of $2.6 million and represents a 16% improvement from a year ago. Aside from endowment earnings, no other fund at the College helps to minimize student cost of attendance more than the Loras Fund. Our ability to provide needy students with the necessary aid; enriching opportunities in campus ministry, athletics and theater; faculty/student research programs; arts and culture events; and so much more is because of your generosity to the Loras Fund.

While the success in total dollars raised is something to celebrate, there are two critical achievements that give me the greatest satisfaction. First, we received gifts from a historical best 6,980 donors and increased the alumni giving record for a fourth straight year. Second, because of the renewed and improved increase in participation, we were able to advance a larger number of initiatives while reaching new heights in others. You will be impressed as you traverse this communication piece.

Our philanthropic success and institutional achievements are due in part to strong leadership. I thank our Board of Regents for its unwavering and selfless support. I am blessed to have a strong administrative team which capably handles the College's daily operations. And, I extend my personal gratitude to Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dan Allen ('90) and his staff, for their good work in facilitating our fundraising achievements. I wish him well as he pursues his doctoral degree at Loyola University and moves closer to home in a new professional opportunity. Further, and as you will note inside, I am delighted to welcome Jack Wertzberger ('75) to this critical position. I have every confidence that he will pick up right where Dan so capably led us.

As I begin my fourth year as president, my hope and optimism for this "spirited and spiritual" place have never been stronger. I am humbled and honored to serve my alma mater. I am ever so proud of our students for they are a great inspiration to all of us. I admire our faculty and staff for their undeniable commitment and service to our students. And, I am so grateful to all of you - our benefactors - for without your support and prayers we couldn't deliver an extraordinary Catholic, liberal arts experience.

Our successes have been celebrated and there is much work to be done. I encourage your continued faith, trust and support. Our needs have never been greater, our dreams have never been grander and the types of students we graduate have never been more needed in our world.

Thank you for your past and continued commitment!

God bless,


James E. Collins ('84)
President