cg/1-24-2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           

CONTACT:  OU Public Affairs, (405) 325-1701

OKLAHOMA CITY – University of Oklahoma President David Boren announced today that the OU College of Medicine is nearly halfway to reaching its $10 million private fundraising goal in the Second Century Scholarship Campaign and also is the recipient of two major gifts from the estate of Mary M. Jones of Mustang, Okla., who died earlier this month at the age of 105.

Boren made the announcements at the January meeting of the OU Board of Regents in Oklahoma City.

He noted that the five-year Second Century Campaign drive, officially launched in spring 2011, has raised nearly $4.73 million in gifts, pledges and planned gift commitments for medical scholarships.

The scholarship campaign has garnered broad-based support from alumni and friends, including gifts from 27 donors who are members of the Second Century Society.  The Society honors all scholarship donors of $10,000 or more, including special recognition for donors at the $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 levels. 

The Second Century Campaign addresses the College of Medicine’s top priority – raising additional funds for medical scholarships to remain competitive in attracting top students and to keep the costs of medical school affordable.

The gifts from the late Mrs. Jones include her home and 20 acres in the heart of Mustang and a $100,000 cash gift that will benefit work being conducted in pediatric neurology.

Mrs. Jones was predeceased by two husbands, one of whom was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and the other who had cancer.  Proceeds from the sale of her home and land will be split evenly to support research being done in those two areas at the OU Health Sciences Center.