NTID campaign meets the $11.5 million mark, with more than $2 million earmarked for facilities, technology

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf has successfully completed its first $11.5 million, private fund-raising campaign, "Fulfilling the Promise." Using its 30th anniversary as a catalyst, NTID's campaign will bolster its scholarship funds, enrich its technology and research efforts and support special programs serving deaf students.

"This campaign and the benefits it continues to bring young deaf people clearly demonstrate corporate and community commitment to this unique program," says Robert Davila, vice president for NTID. "Through private support of individuals, our scholarship program has increased four-fold. More than a third of RIT's deaf students now benefit from scholarships. And, gifts to support our facilities and technology represent more than $2 million."

Other highlights resulting from the campaign include the NTID Learning Center. This state-of-the-art environment has become the hub of teaching and learning within the college. Investments from the Parsons Foundation, the Citicorp Foundation, the Xerox Corporation, the Max Factor Foundation and Sprint Foundation have made this facility a reality.

For example, the Learning Center's Sprint-donated equipment allows NTID to be video-linked anywhere in the world. "In addition, several gifts from Citicorp have greatly increased distance learning opportunities," Davila adds. "Xerox support has allowed us to enhance the NTID High Technology Center by building a wide array of printing, publishing and computing technology around the Xerox Docutech." Foundation support from NEC, CBS and Prudential allows hundreds of high school juniors to attend Explore Your Future, an NTID week-long summer program on career options.