Increased Employee Participation Highlights Successful Year for USM Foundation

Thanks to the support of its generous donors, The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation raised $10,272,475 during the recently concluded fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. The total amount raised includes the face value of planned gifts totaling $3,050,000 and gifts from 1,262 first-time donors.

One of the highlights of the 2014-15 fiscal year was the success of The Campaign for Southern Miss. A new record for employee giving was set with 45 percent of benefit-eligible University employees making gifts during the 2015 faculty and staff campaign. Designed to cultivate, recognize and inspire members of the University's faculty and staff, The Campaign for Southern Miss uses a peer-to-peer approach that encourages employee participation in giving over dollars raised.

“The generosity of our Southern Miss faculty and staff should inspire us all,” said Stace Mercier, interim executive director of the USM Foundation. “A 45 percent employee giving rate demonstrates an incredibly strong belief in the institution we all love.”

Dozens of steering committee members and volunteers across both University campuses helped to promote this year's Campaign, which raised more than $275,000, by educating co-workers about the importance of faculty and staff giving. As a result, 24 departments, including an entire college, reached 100 percent employee participation.

“Each employee donation provides value to the University, dollar for dollar, and benefits every area,” said Michael Forster, dean of the College of Health and Campaign chair. Choosing to donate to the Campaign says we believe so strongly in what happens at Southern Miss that we are willing to support it above and beyond our everyday work by making a gift.”

According to Megan Burkes, manager of annual giving and special projects, the goal for this year's Campaign was to maintain the previous year's participation rate of 40 percent.

“We have seen such great success with this campaign over the past several years, and we simply hoped to maintain the momentum. The fact that we exceeded our goal by such a significant margin is a testament to the outstanding family of employees we have at Southern Miss.”

Funds raised during The Campaign for Southern Miss support a variety of areas including scholarships, building campaigns, academics and faculty support.

The 2014-15 fiscal year also saw the successful conclusion of three top fundraising initiatives for the University – the DuBard School for Language Disorders 50th Anniversary Campaign, the Moffitt Health Center Campaign and the Dale Center for the Study of War & Society Campaign.

• The DuBard School for Language Disorders celebrated its 50th anniversary with a fundraising campaign that netted approximately $1.17 million. For more than 50 years, the DuBard School has helped bring the gift of oral and written language to children with communication disorders and reading disabilities through use of the DuBard Association Method®. Through the success of the Campaign, the School will be able to provide scholarships, professional development and operational improvements to ultimately ensure that children receive the skills they need and see that those pursuing training have a place to learn and excel.

• The Moffitt Health Center Campaign raised approximately $1.08 million to help provide a new student health services facility on the Southern Miss Hattiesburg campus. By increasing the square footage dedicated to Student Health Services by 30 percent, the new facility provides much-needed space for more efficient laboratory and X-ray activity, larger health care provider work areas, 15 private exam rooms and a more accessible pharmacy. The Moffitt Health Center opened in April and is housed inside Scott Hall as part of Century Park South.

• Exceeding its $2 million goal, the Dale Center for the Study of War & Society Campaign will help support the Center through operational and scholarship endowments, as well as enhancements of lecture series and professorships such as the Maj. Gen. Buford “Buff” Blount Endowed Professorship in Military History. The success of the Campaign will also enable the Dale Center to expand its community of creative scholars who interact with students and the public to inspire interest in the effects of military conflict on society.

“We are very pleased with the successes of this year's fundraising efforts,” said Mercier. “It is gratifying that our Southern Miss alumni and friends continue to choose to invest in the University to make a difference in the lives of our students by supporting scholarships and other worthy programs.”

For more information about the USM Foundation, visit www.usmfoundation.com.