UConn has won the Council for Advancement and Support of Education 1997 Circle of Excellence in Education Fund-Raising Award, which honors outstanding fund-raising programs across the country.

"This award affirms the hard work by the UConn Foundation over the past several years and the broad support the University enjoys among alumni and the people of Connecticut," said Edward T. Allenby, vice president for institutional advancement. "We commend the state Legislature for committing itself to us through the matching gifts program under UConn 2000. The program has attracted funds and augmented the Foundation's efforts tremendously."

The University was one of only three public research institutions nationwide singled out to receive the Circle of Excellence award for fund-raising improvement. The award was based on fund-raising results for fiscal year 1996, when the UConn Foundation reported a 62 percent increase in total private contributions received. During that period, gifts to endowment grew 150 percent; unrestricted gifts were up 43 percent.

Ken Ashworth, vice president for development at the UConn Foundation, received the honor on behalf of the University at the CASE Philanthropy Commission reception held on Monday, during CASE's 23rd Annual Assembly in Washington, DC. RKSA