MTSU sets lofty target of $165K for Employee Charitable Giving Campaign [+VIDEO]

Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee urges faculty and staff to participate in the 2025-26 Employee Charitable Giving Campaign during the kickoff event on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the Cope Administration Building atrium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. This year’s target for the monthlong campaign is a record-breaking $165,000 to support local nonprofits. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee recently called for all #TrueGivers to open up their hearts and financial resources to support this year’s annual Employee Charitable Giving Campaign — with hopes of capturing $165,000 in pledges over the monthlong drive.

Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU President — Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

At a recent kickoff event in the atrium of the Cope Administration Building, McPhee announced the target before an audience of administrators, faculty and staff, again urging the Blue Raider family to put forth its best effort in helping our neighbors in need by supporting the many area nonprofits that provide critical services and assistances for areas such as home health care, child care, literacy, food and nutrition, and much more.

Running Oct. 1-Nov. 1, the campaign is led by a committee of faculty and staff volunteers to rally financial support for a host of worthy causes. Weekly drawings are held throughout the campaign, with prizes ranging from parking spaces to various MTSU-branded promotional items.

Watch a recap of the kickoff event below:

“We speak often about our True Blue Values, and this annual campaign most certainly reflects the priority we place upon engagement in the lives of our community,” McPhee said. “Perhaps now, more than ever, the act by so many MTSU employees of stepping up during this annual campaign to help support those in need is both necessary and important.”

**Click the image to submit your pledge.**

Last year’s campaign brought in $161,394.77, surpassing the $160,000 goal and continuing a string of record-breaking campaigns the past several years. The amount pledged by 768 donors equated to a pledge average of $228.60 per giver.

McPhee emphasized that MTSU employees can contribute to the campaign online by going to https://mtsu.edu/mtsucares and following a link to an online giving form. From the site, employees can designate one-time or monthly payroll deductions to any of four independent charities and three federated charitable organizations, including Community Shares, Creating Healthier Communities, and local United Ways.

Middle Tennessee State University Provost Mark Byrnes shares how the annual Employee Charitable Giving Campaign “shows our concern goes beyond the campus” during the campaign kickoff event on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the Cope Administration Building atrium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. This year’s target for the monthlong campaign is a record-breaking $165,000 to support local nonprofits. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes echoed the importance of the campaign.

“To me, this is an important way that we show we’re not just located in the community; we are part of the community, and it also shows our concern goes beyond the campus,” Byrnes said. “Obviously, it’s our job to care about the campus and protect our well-being, but we’re concerned about our neighbors as well.”

Byrnes noted the services his family accessed through the local nonprofit Special Kids near campus.

“Special Kids provides therapy and nursing students to children with critical medical needs and will provide those services at little or no cost to the families who can’t afford to pay,” he said. “That takes money, that takes donations to make that happen. But there are plenty of great choices when you go to the website.”

Byrnes again presented the Provost’s Cup to the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, which has now won the trophy for 13 years straight for the highest percentage of participation in the campaign as part of a friendly competition among the academic colleges.

Middle Tennessee State University’s Joyce Heames, dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, shares how nonprofits like United Way helped her earlier in life during the kickoff of the 2025-26 Employee Charitable Giving Campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the Cope Administration Building atrium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Heames relinquished the Provost’s Cup, at right, which the Jones College has won for 13 straight years for having the most participation among the academic colleges. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

In relinquishing possession of the cup, Jones College Dean Joyce Heames offered another heartfelt challenge to all faculty and staff to give what they can to help meet this year’s target.

“And there was a stage in my life where I needed United Way and a few other agencies in the community that I was in. I was a single mom … and these kinds of agencies come into play, and they help us get through those difficult times,” she said. “These agencies help some of our students, some of our faculty, some of our staff.

“So let’s all come together and make this the best year ever.”

If you have any questions about the campaign, please contact Allison McGoffin at 898-2953.

— Jimmy Hart (Jimmy.Hart@mtsu.edu)