MTSU raises record $158K-plus for 2023 Employee Charitable Giving Campaign

Middle Tennessee State University employees have again risen to the challenge to up their True Blue generosity with another record pledge amount for the 2023-24 Employee Charitable Giving Campaign.

This year’s monthlong campaign ended with $158,278.74 in pledges from 755 participants to support area nonprofit organizations — easily surpassing the goal of $147,500.

“What a tremendous outpouring from our faculty and staff to financially support the tremendous work by area nonprofits to address the numerous challenges throughout the community through vital services to assist our neighbors in need,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee.

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

“It remains a priority of our True Blue family to share in the blessing of being part of such a thriving institution by giving back through this annual effort. My sincere thanks to everyone who helped us successfully complete another record-breaking campaign. Every pledge matters.”

Last year’s campaign raised a record $144,906 from 830 faculty and staff participants, surpassing the goal of $142,500.

This year’s campaign, which ran Oct. 1 through Nov. 1, started strong with 92 administrators, senior academic leaders and coaches signing up as “Pacesetter” early givers and pledged $40,613 before the kickoff — 27.5% of goal.

The campaign is led by a committee of faculty and staff volunteers to rally financial support for worthy causes throughout the community and region.

Middle Tennessee State University Provost Mark Byrnes, right, presents the Provost Cup to Joyce Heames, dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, in the atrium of the Cope Administration Building in early November. The Jones College has captured the cup 11 straight years for having the highest percentage of participation among the academic colleges during the annual Employee Charitable Giving Campaign. (MTSU photo by Allison McGoffin)

To cap off the campaign with a familiar act, University Provost Mark Byrnes again presented the Provost’s Cup — for the 11^th straight year — to the Jennings A. Jones College of Business as the college with the highest percentage rate of participation in the campaign, this year at 72%.

Thus, new Jones College dean, Joyce Heames, kept a commitment she made at the campaign kickoff of having no intention of ending the college’s streak started under the leadership of former dean and now marketing professor, Dean Emeritus David Urban.

“It was a Jones College family win, because our faculty and staff have hearts of gold for giving,” Heames said. “The task force made individual videos that were sent out across the college in which they shared personal stories of why they gave. That was the motivational piece that inspired our increased giving. I am just proud to be the dean of the Jones College.”

MTSU employees contribute to the campaign online by going to https://mtsu.edu/mtsucares and following a link there to an online giving form. From the site, employees can designate one-time or monthly payroll deductions to any of 10 independent charities and three federated charitable organizations including Community Shares, Creating Healthier Communities, and local United Ways.

— Jimmy Hart (Jimmy.Hart@mtsu.edu)