University of Rochester President Joel Seligman calls it a red letter day for the school.
He says the Meliora Challenge, the campaign for the University of Rochester, has eclipsed 1-billion dollars toward the goal of 1.2 billion.
The Challenge was launched in October, 2011.
Seligman says funds raised go to student support through scholarships and fellowships, faculty support through professorships, programs vital to the school, unrestricted support through the annual fund, and for new facilities and renovations.
The donation that put the campaign over 1-billion came from Dr. Jim Aquavella, professor of ophthamology at the University's Flaum Institute.
He made a four million dollar contribution in memory of his wife Kay, a former nurse and administrator at the Institute.
Board member Bob Witmer says so far, they've received contributions from all 50 states, 78 different countries.
Over 90-thousand donors from the Rochester area contributed 424-million dollars.
Another 584-million dollars has come from 40-thousand other donors from outside the Rochester area.
Dr. Seligman says he never doubted they'd reach this milestone, he just didn't know when.