Triumphant night as University wins two top THELMA awards
Outstanding Fundraising Initiative: From L-R: Dara Ó Briain, Steve O'Connor, Director of Development, Professor Nilesh Samani, Professor Alison Goodall, Ave Vinick, Deputy Director of Development, Liesl Elder, of the University of Oxford
The University's Search for Richard III and major fundraising campaign for the Cardiovascular Research Centre helped it win two top awards at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards.
Leicester won awards for Outstanding Communications Team and Outstanding Fundraising Initiative at a glittering ceremony in London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Thursday, June 20, hosted by comedian and TV personality Dara Ó Briain.
- Outstanding Communications Team: Our Marketing and Communications team
The judges praised the the reputational impact of these initiatives and the unparalleled success of the Richard III announcement that had made global front page news.
The University’s recent major fundraising campaign for the creation of a state-of-the- art Cardiovascular Research Centre at Glenfield Hospital led to the award for outstanding fundraising initiative ahead of strong competition from five other entries including Glasgow and Nottingham.
The judges praised Leicester’s ambition and remarkable success in raising three times the original appeal target and securing widespread community support and the biggest ever donation in the University’s history with a gift of £7 million from The John and Lucille van Geest Foundation.
Leicester’s entry was commended for representing best practice in the field and moving their fundraising programme from good to great.
You can read the judges' citations and the Times Higher Education's report of the evening online.
