The Biggest Fund

For the past three years, Harvard University has diligently appealed to its alumni in a well-planned drive to raise $82.5 million. Purpose: a lavish refurbishing of Harvard College (TIME, Nov. 26, 1956). Last month, still about $10 million short of the goal, Harvard went back to wealthy alumni who had already given. Last week the results were announced: out of deep pockets in three weeks flowed 18 six-figure gifts totaling $3,100,000, to boost the pledges to $75 million. No sooner had the word been issued than other Harvard-men jumped in to help raise the remaining $7,500,000. Sample: Fund Chairman H. Irving Pratt dropped a casual note to one alumnus who had already given $100,000, promptly got back a pledge for $100,000 more. From Manhattan, Pratt raised $50,000 with three phone calls in a single hour. One previous giver, listed as possibly good for another $5,000, plunked down $35,000. At week's end, with hundreds of other alumni giving and giving again, Harvard could see success ahead in the most massive fund campaign ever carried out by a university for the benefit of undergraduate education.

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