POTSDAM – SUNY Potsdam reports that its current fundraising campaign has reached 90 percent of its $27 million goal.

Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam has garnered $24.4 million in gifts and pledges so far, on the path to bringing in $27 million in time for the college's bicentennial in 2016.

Despite having the smallest enrollment of all 13 comprehensive colleges within SUNY, development staff at Potsdam say the campus boasts some of the most loyal and generous graduates. It ranks second overall among those schools for alumni participation in giving, and second for both total dollars given by alumni and the amount raised per student. According to the most recent Voluntary Support of Education statistics, SUNY Potsdam ranks No. 18 in the nation among public master's-granting institutions for the percentage of alumni who give to their alma maters.

As of Sept. 15, donors had pledged or contributed $24,396,208 to the campaign.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of Potsdam, our donors, our volunteers and especially of the team that works each day to make it happen,” said President Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg. “The incredible success of the Take the Lead Campaign speaks volumes about our community's commitment to helping the next generation of SUNY Potsdam students achieve their goals."

The priorities of the Take the Lead Campaign are academic excellence, scholarships, student experiences, the Annual Fund for Potsdam and the arts.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.potsdam.edu/campaign.