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Contact: John Scarffe, KU Endowment Association, (785) 832-7336.

Media Advisory: Weekend activities will kickoff largest fund-raising campaign in KU history

Note To Editors: KU Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway and KU First Chairman Forrest Hoglund will be available to the media at 8:30 a.m. Friday on the KU campus in Lawrence. Contact Senior Editor Diane Silver at 832-7363 for more information.

LAWRENCE -- KU Endowment officials and University of Kansas supporters, faculty, staff and students will celebrate the public announcement of the largest fund-raising campaign in KU's history, KU First: Invest In Excellence. The weekend of events include a gala event at the Lied Center, a faculty and staff breakfast and the awarding of 25, $1,000 scholarships. Scheduled events include:

Friday, Sept. 7 - Gala
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
Location: The Lied Center on KU's west campus

KU First officials will announce the total goal for the campaign and the amount already raised to 500 invited guests. The evening will begin with a reception and dinner. Entertainment will include a duet by Mark McVey, the lead male performer from Broadway's "Les Miserables," and soprano Pamela Hinchman, an acclaimed opera performer and new KU fine arts associate professor. The KU First Orchestra, composed of KU faculty, staff and students, also will perform.

Media attendance: Media representatives who want to attend the event should call (785) 832-7412 to obtain a media pass. Space for the media is limited to a small section on the first balcony. Mark McVey's performance schedule will prevent him from giving interviews.
Parking: Media parking will be available on the east side of the Lied Center. Please enter through the ticket office door. Dress is cocktail attire.

Saturday, Sept. 8 - KU First Breakfast for KU Faculty and Staff
Time: 8:30 to 11 a.m.
Location: On the lawn behind Nichols Hall and the KU Endowment Association headquarters building, on KU's west campus.

KU deans and campaign leaders will don aprons and treat KU faculty and staff members to a pancake breakfast. The breakfast entertainment includes music from a Kansas City swing band, and the presence of KU mascots Big Jay, Baby Jay, Jay Doc and Jay Nurse.

A short program will begin at 9:30 a.m. Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway and KU First Chairman Forrest Hoglund will highlight the goals of KU First and the amount of funds raised for KU First to date.

Media attendance and parking: Media representatives are encouraged to attend. Parking will be available at the Lied Center and other west campus lots. At the conclusion of the breakfast, a shuttle service will be available to transport people to the KU-UCLA football game at Memorial Stadium.

Saturday, Sept. 8 - Scholarship Awards
Time: The kick-off for the KU-UCLA game is at 11:37 a.m.
Location: The Zone, a large tent located near the video board at Memorial Stadium.

Twenty-five scholarships, each worth $1,000, will be awarded to students as they enter the stadium. No purchase is necessary to win the scholarships. The selected students must be wearing a free KU First T-shirt and be enrolled at KU. The T-shirts were provided by Intrust Bank. At halftime, Hemenway and Hoglund will lead the students onto the football field for photos. Media attendance and parking: Call Sports Information in the KU Department of Athletics at (785) 864-3417 to obtain a media pass and parking information. After half-time, several scholarship recipients will be available for interviews near the Zone.

Campaign Background
KU First: Invest in Excellence is the largest fund-raising campaign in the history of the University of Kansas. The quiet or preliminary stage of the campaign has been underway since 1998, focusing on identification of potential donors. This weekend's celebration marks the beginning of the public phase of KU First.

All gifts to KU Endowment will count toward the campaign goal until the close of KU First in 2004. The campaign will raise funds for student support such as scholarships and fellowships, professorships, teaching and research funds, capital projects and program support.