IU President McRobbie announces raise in IU Bicentennial campaign goal

First Lady presents renowned actress Glenn Close with women’s philanthropy award

At Indiana University’s recent "For All Who Lead and Volunteer" event to honor those central to making the For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign a success, IU President Michael A. McRobbie announced the campaign’s fundraising goal would increase to $3 billion.

At the same event, First Lady and founder of Women’s Philanthropy at IU Laurie Burns McRobbie presented six-time Academy Award-nominated and three-time Emmy- and Tony-winning actress Glenn Close with the Women Leading the Way Award from the IU Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council.

From top: IU President Michael A. McRobbie, First Lady Laurie Burns McRobbie, and members of the IU Student Association with renowned actress Glenn Close at the 2017 "For All Who Lead and Volunteer" event. McRobbie announces an increase in the IU Bicentennial Campaign fundraising goal.

Since the public launch of IU’s first-ever university-wide philanthropic campaign in September 2015, IU has already achieved a remarkable 82 percent of its fundraising goal with more than $2 billion already raised by IU alumni, staff and friends. To date, more than 270,000 individuals have generously contributed to the campaign and nearly 14,000 IU faculty and staff have given $126 million.

Because of the success of the For All campaign so far, its goal will be increased to $3 billion, the largest campaign goal ever in the history of the university.

"IU's Bicentennial will be a time that will never happen again," McRobbie said. "Extending the campaign through the whole bicentennial year and increasing the goal takes full advantage of this unique opportunity. It will enable all members of the IU family, worldwide, to do all they can to support IU into its next century of its existence as one of the world's greatest universities.”

For her many contributions to the university and beyond, Close was honored by the IU Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council at the For All event, becoming the fifth recipient of its Women Leading the Way Award. The award celebrates extraordinary achievements in philanthropic work that improve communities and inspire others to act in service of positive change.

From top: IU First Lady Laurie Burns McRobbie presented actress Glenn Close with the Women Leading the Way award. Close discusses her costumes in her collection, which was donated to IU's School of Art, Architecture + Design. Close speaks at Franklin Hall on the IU Bloomington campus.

"Glenn’s outstanding achievements as a national philanthropic leader in the area of mental health is a hallmark of what we look for in making this award," Burns McRobbie said. "Glenn’s many contributions to Indiana University through her work with U Bring Change 2 Mind, the Department of Theater and Drama, and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy are examples of her personal generosity and commitment to the next generation of actors and civic leaders."

Close began working with IU in 2013 in support of Bring Change 2 Mind, a national nonprofit organization Close founded to destigmatize mental illness. The university’s U Bring Change 2 Mind College Toolbox Project was conceived in collaboration and gives students the tools they need to better understand mental illness, engage others in open dialogue around mental health and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness.

From top: Actress Glenn Close poses with IU Women's Colloquium. A dress from "102 Dalmatians," part of Close's costume collection donated to IU's School of Art, Architecture + Design. A leather jacket Close wore in the film "Fatal Attraction" was donated to IU.

Close also donated her costume collection to IU’s School of Art, Architecture + Design. The collection, from 47 projects, spans Close’s celebrated career through film, television and theater and includes pieces from some of her most iconic performances, including items from "The Big Chill," "Fatal Attraction" and "101 Dalmatians."

"I am particularly grateful for the extraordinary gift of her costume collection that will support a wide range of pedagogical activities, and exhibitions of these theatrical and cinematic works of art are sure to delight us all in the years to come. Glenn is a shining model for ‘Women Leading the Way.’”