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CIERA completes $100k new donor gift matching challenge

CIERA is excited to announce the successful completion of the Kent Family Gift Matching Challenge, a $100,000 philanthropic goal which concluded on December 31, 2023.

The matching challenge was set by longtime CIERA supporters and Northwestern Alumni Fran (’72) and Paul (’71, ’79 MBA) Kent during an October 2022 exclusive tour of the MMT Observatory in southern Arizona. This was the first CIERA-led tour of its kind, allowing participants to experience firsthand the kind of research they support when contributing to CIERA. The philanthropic challenge specifically matched contributions from first-time CIERA donors. The Kents shared during the 2022 trip that the challenge was designed to generate greater exposure of CIERA and expand its reach by encouraging the support of others too.

CIERA enthusiastically promoted the Kent Family Gift Matching Challenge across a wide range of channels and could not be more thrilled that the Kents’ goal was reached and exceeded. We look forward to continuing to work with those who contributed towards the challenge. Our work unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos is never done. Thank you very much to the Kent family and to all who helped make this possible!

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