DICKINSON-The Dickinson State University Foundation says pledges and gifts for its just completed fiscal year amounted to more than $9.3 million. That is an increase of $8 million from the prior year, making it the largest single annual gain and the largest amount ever gifted in any one year.

The foundation's 2007-08 fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.

A pledge of $1 million by the Walton Family Foundation and another of $1.6 million by Fisher Industries are a major contributions that have been received.

In all, the total net assets of the DSU Foundation exceed $16 million, which represents an increase of $4.2 million from 2007 and an increase of $12.7 from 1997.