LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — It is the largest fundraising campaign in state history. The University of Kentucky has reached its $2.1 billion goal for “Kentucky Can”.

UK President Eli Capilouto said, “Nearly 160 years ago, the University of Kentucky made a promise to the commonwealth, and that’s that we would advance this state in every way we could.”

A promise the president said was kept as the university reached its goal of $2.1 billion for its Kentucky Can campaign, which started in 2018.

“This was key money in our efforts to invest $4.4 billion in this campus over the last 12 years to modernize our facilities, to give the best in the way of classrooms for our students, laboratories, for our scientists, and those rooms of healing and hope in our hospital and ambulatory care centers that are not just here in Lexington, but you can find across the state,” Capilouto said.

More than 162,500 donors have contributed to Kentucky Can.

UK vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement Jake Lemon said, “You know, certain donors want to make a certain impact, and we honor that and do that, steward that money and I believe we’ve done that. “

As the campaign reached its goal, officials said the work was only beginning.

“Our donors have stepped forward to invest in that future talent, that next generation of innovators, that next generation of citizens to lead their communities and the careers they choose,” Capilouto said.

There will be a special celebration Friday for the donors, marking the end of the Kentucky Can campaign and the beginning of a new chapter.