Middle Tennessee State University employees have again been challenged to show their True Blue generosity by reaching another record financial goal put forth for the 2023-24 Employee Charitable Giving Campaign.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee recently outlined that challenge at a campaign kickoff ceremony in the lobby of the Cope Administration Building, urging those in attendance to help reach the goal of garnering $147,500 in pledges to support area nonprofit organizations.

“Being True Blue means also that we look for opportunities to lift up and benefit others,” McPhee said. “Through our annual Charitable Giving Campaign, the combined contributions of our employees have made an overwhelmingly positive difference in the lives of our neighbors and friends. I ask you today to again join me in this noble effort to benefit our communities.”

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

This year’s monthlong campaign, which officially begins Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 1, will start strong: 92 administrators, senior academic leaders and coaches signed up as “Pacesetter” early givers and pledged $40,613 before the announcement. That means the campaign starts Sunday already 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.

As has become tradition, University Provost Mark Byrnes took possession of the Provost’s Cup, awarded annually to the college with the highest percentage rate of participation in the campaign, from the Jennings A. Jones College of Business.

The business college, under the leadership of former dean and now Dean Emeritus David Urban, has dominated the friendly campus competition the last 10 years, but Byrnes noted that “each new campaign brings a new opportunity for the other colleges to claim the Provost’s Cup. … I would like to commend the faculty and staff of this great university for their passionate engagement in the annual Charitable Giving Campaign.”

New Jones College dean, Joyce Heames, was all smiles as she made it clear that she had no plans to end the Provost’s Cup streak under her watch but challenged the other academic leaders to encourage their faculty and staff to support such a worthy cause.

Heames said a mentor shared advice years ago that Heames should find a cause she’s passionate about to support financially and, when considering where to work, to look at how that company or organization approaches charitable giving.

“Do they have a heart from the community as well? And MTSU has done that,” she said. “They give us an easy way to give back to try to solve some of the problems in our community. So I do challenge you all today to give. … I look forward to reclaiming this at the end of the month, but I would also gladly give it away if we have enough giving across this campus in making a big difference in our community.”

Employees can contribute to the campaign online by going to https://mtsu.edu/mtsucares and follow 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.

Andrew Oppmann, vice president for marketing and communications, wrapped up the kickoff by reminding employees that weekly Thursday drawings would be held throughout the campaign where lucky participants can win a host of prizes that include parking spaces and array of True Blue-branded gear. Winners will be announced on Fridays.

“Let’s show our generous True Blue spirit and once again go beyond expectations to achieve an even greater all-time high level of giving,” he said.

— Jimmy Hart (Jimmy.Hart@mtsu.edu)