<p>GAINESVILLE, Fla. More than 1,000 University of Florida alumni and friends of The Gator Nation gathered tonight at the UFs OConnell Center to catch a glimpse of UFs future or what the future could be.</p>
<p>The occasion was the formal kickoff of the public phase of the universitys $1.5 billion capital campaign, Florida Tomorrow, slated for completion in fall 2012. The highlight of the evening was the announcement that $502.3 million has been raised toward that goal during the two-year leadership phase of the campaign that began in July 2005.</p>
<p>For the University of Florida to continue in its track of excellence, and to continue to provide a valuable service and produce life-improving and life-changing research, we emphatically need a private fundraising effort of this magnitude, said UF President Bernie Machen. This capital campaign is the future of this university and the state, thus the title Florida Tomorrow.</p>
<p>The event focused on the three principal areas of the campaign: support for faculty, students and research.</p>
<p>It takes lots of money to attract and reward world-class professors, said Beth McCague of Jacksonville, co-chairwoman of the campaigns steering council. It takes a lot of money for competitive salaries and for the kinds of labs, equipment and facilities top researchers need.</p>
<p>The Florida Tomorrow campaign addresses the fundraising needs of UFs 16 colleges and its many units and research centers.</p>
<p>Table hosts for the event included philanthropists who have made a commitment of at least $100,000 to the campaign since January. The combined commitments of the 100 table hosts totaled $61 million of the $502.3 raised for the campaign to date. Also attending were UF administrators and faculty representing a cross section of the university.</p>
<p>The overall purpose of tonights event is to engage, inspire and motivate prospective donors to the campaign and to recognize many of those who have made a major gift since January, said Earl Powell of Miami, co-chairman of the campaign steering council. Its the Gator faithful and others who see that the University of Florida is a wise place to make an investment in the future, who will assure the success of this campaign.</p>
<p>The evening included a tribute to UF students, faculty, researchers, donors and alumni, including former Florida governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, a 1959 UF graduate.</p>
<p>An original, multi-suite performance, titled Voyage to Tomorrow, capped the program. The production combined student dancers, singers, musicians and digital artists from UFs College of Fine Arts, which includes the Digital Worlds Institute.</p>
<p>The $1.5 billion goal places UFs campaign at seventh among public universities currently engaged in a capital campaign.</p>
<p>This university has tremendous momentum going into the public phase of this campaign thanks to key volunteer leadership, which is essential for success, according to Paul Robell, UF vice president for development and alumni affairs. Were off to a very promising start.</p>
<p>Florida Tomorrow is the third comprehensive capital campaign in the universitys 154-year history. The previous one concluded in 2000, after raising $850.4 million in five years.</p>