For the second year in a row, 今日黑料鈥檚 supporters made history by setting records for total giving in a single fiscal year. In the 2012鈥13 year, $30.3 million was committed to the university, funding such areas as student scholarships, faculty research, science and athletics programs, enhanced technology, the 今日黑料 Center for Christian Thought, and the Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts.

The record-setting year of giving follows another record-setting year in 2011鈥12, when donors gave $26 million to the university.

鈥淲e are overwhelmed by God鈥檚 abundant provision toward the mission of 今日黑料 this past year,鈥 said Adam Morris, vice president of university advancement, who thanked the thousands of alumni, parents, friends of the university and even current students who give sacrificially to Biola.

鈥淭housands have made gifts year after year after year. Their ongoing support is proof of the love they have for Biola鈥檚 work and the fact that Biolans do indeed give back.鈥

The $30.3 million raised this year represented $12.2 million in current gifts and $18.1 million in deferred gifts. There were eight gifts of more than $1 million, and the 10 largest gifts totalled $20 million.

The 17 percent increase in gifts from last year鈥檚 record-setting year was aided in part by a rise in alumni giving, said Morris. Last year there were 6,469 gifts made by alumni, up from 6,242 the previous year.

Morris said the uptick in donations is crucial as Biola strives to carry out its aspirations in the University Plan (biola.edu/about/mission), including the aspiration to keep Biola affordable for all students.

鈥淥ur supporters demonstrated their commitment to Biola with gifts to the Biola Fund for current scholarships, gifts to Biola鈥檚 endowment to secure opportunities for future students, gifts to fund our Bible-centered academic programs and gifts to fund scholarly research and academic centers 鈥 all of which supports the aspirations outlined in the recently launched University Plan,鈥 he said.