Upper Iowa Team Peacock tops annual fund-raising goal, 8-year total now over $1.3 million for student scholarships
Upper Iowa University's Team Peacock announced that it has surpassed its annual fund-raising goal. This year's total of $190,000, to date, brings the Team's eight-year contribution to the University's scholarship fund to more than $1.3 million. Team Peacock left Saturday morning July 21 for the week-long ride across Iowa.
FAYETTE, Iowa (July 20, 2012) -- Upper Iowa University Team Peacock announced Friday, July 20, that it has reached and exceeded its 2012 fund-raising goal of $185,700. The Team has now raised more than $1.3 million for student scholarships by riding RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa).
"This year, since we were founded in the year 1857, we set our fund-raising goal at $185,700 to honor the University's 155th anniversary," said UIU President Alan G. Walker. "I am pleased to announce that we have surpassed that goal before we even leave for RAGBRAI, and that we have now raised a cumulative total of more than $1.3 million. Every dollar we raise goes to fund scholarships for our students; and, on their behalf, I would like to thank our riders and support crew and all the board members, faculty, staff, students, friends, and sponsors who stepped forward to help our students again this year."
Team Peacock, which began with just seven riders in 2005, is now comprised of 35 UIU faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University, as well as members of the "Blue Crew" who support the riders. The team is led each year by Walker, who bicycles the entire RAGBRAI route.
Walker added that although the annual goal has been reached, the University will continue to make every effort to raise additional funds to enable students to graduate with the least debt possible. "We don't officially close out the Team Peacock fund-raising year until October 31, and we will continue to accept donations through that date and then set another fund-raising goal for 2013," Walker added. "Every year, we raise the bar a little more; and every year, we have met the challenge to help our students get a great education and graduate with less debt.
"Because of fundraising initiatives in support of scholarships, UIU students on average graduate with less debt than many of their contemporaries at other four-year institutions in Iowa," Walker added. That's important to their future, to Iowa, and to the country. Our effort to help our students afford an education is a commitment that really never ends."
Wendell Snodgrass, vice president for advancement, development and alumni relations, said meeting the goal was a combined effort by the Board of Trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, corporate sponsors, Team Peacock members, and friends of UIU.
"Everyone rallied to the challenge," Snodgrass added. "Each benefactor knows how important it is to help our students - especially in these difficult financial times -- and they dug a little deeper to give this year. On behalf of all UIU students, we thank them for their support."
"Unrestricted dollars like the Team Peacock challenge are an important part of our overall '$25 million Transforming UIU' capital campaign. Reaching such a milestone gets us closer to our overall capital campaign goal," Snodgrass added.
Corporate sponsors of Team Peacock in 2012 include:
- The Samuels Group
- UNICCO, Integrated Facilities
- Scott Pharmacy
- Derck & Edson Associates
- ME&V
- Spillman Farmer Architects
- Public Financial Management
- Millhiser Smith Agency
- West Union Trenching
- Schumacher Elevator Co.
- Compass Business Solutions
- Van Meter Inc.
- The Conley Group, Inc.
- CE Stone Refrigeration
"Team Peacock is much more than just our riders," Walker added. "We have support on campus throughout the year as well as during the week, and we have a dedicated support crew who comes with the Team to make sure we get what we need to complete the ride safely. We also are grateful to the alumni who support us along the route and who visit the UIU booth in the mid-day and overnight towns, and to the alumni and friends who open their homes and yards to provide us with a place to sleep and recuperate each night."
Hosts for Team Peacock this year are Dan and Beverly Dickes, Sioux Center; Wally and Mary Miller, Cherokee; Amy and Pete Hildreth, Lake View; Frank and Sue Buchan, Marshalltown; Tyler and Sarah Olson, Cedar Rapids, and Lowell Tiedt, Anamosa.
For more information about Team Peacock, to make a donation to UIU scholarships, or to follow this year's RAGBRAI participation, go to www.uiu.edu/teampeacock
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to over 6,800 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu