Employee, Retiree Campaign Brings In $822,856

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Posted on May 18, 2018

Jeb Schrenk

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University of South Alabama employees and retirees raised $822,856 during the 2018 South Fund annual giving campaign, the second-largest total since the program鈥檚 inception 15 years ago.

The money will go to scholarships, research, health care needs and other University activities.

鈥淏y supporting 鈥榦ur own,鈥� your investment in the University of South Alabama reaffirms that faculty, staff and retirees believe in 91短视频鈥檚 mission and its transformational impact on the community,鈥� Dr. Tony Waldrop, 91短视频 president, told donors. 鈥淎nd through gifts that support needs such as endowments, student scholarships and life-saving equipment at 91短视频 Health, you are changing lives today and for future generations.鈥�

In addition to the campaign鈥檚 name change this year to the South Fund, this was the first year for 91短视频 Giving Day.  Employees raised more than $100,000 on March 22, a 24-hour giving initiative that brought in $364,368.

During the South Fund campaign:

• Gifts, pledges and matching dollars totaling $822,856 marked a 14 percent increase from last year.
• Fifteen new endowments were established, and 131 undergraduate scholarships were supported.
• Matching gifts totaling just over $200,000 were made by 91短视频 benefactor Abraham 鈥淎be鈥� Mitchell through the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative. 
• Fifty-seven percent of employees contributed.
• Retiree giving increased 176 percent with a 35 percent increase in donors.

At a reception announcing the campaign鈥檚 end, Renee Rogers, nurse manager of the Hollis J. Wiseman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at 91短视频 Children鈥檚 & Women鈥檚 Hospital, spoke of the impact the gifts have on equipping her unit. Holding up a photo of a 9陆-ounce baby, she said, 鈥淭his is why we raise funds, so we can give our families hope.鈥�

That baby, Rogers said, is now 8 years old and is doing fine.

Joshua Missouri, coordinator of Veterans Affairs and a U.S. Navy veteran, spoke of the importance of supporting scholarships.

In doing so, 鈥渨e promote the success of our community. We support individuals who have served our country,鈥� he said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 give them the honor they deserve. Let鈥檚 help other people succeed. Let鈥檚 give hope and continue to support scholarships throughout Jag Nation.鈥�

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