MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s annual Employee Charitable Giving Campaign encourages faculty and staff to show their True Blue pride and give back to the community with another record goal of $160,000.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee recently kicked off the campaign ceremony in the lobby of the Cope Administration Building, urging those in attendance to give through pledges or a lump sum.

“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 $158,278 from 755 faculty and staff participants, surpassing the goal of $147,500. 

This year’s monthlong campaign, which officially begins Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 1, will start strong: 108 administrators and coaches signed up as “Pacesetter” early givers and pledged over $42,000 before the announcement — already 26% of the goal.

Watch a recap of the kickoff event below:

The campaign is led by a committee of faculty and staff volunteers to rally financial support for worthy causes throughout the community and region. McPhee applauded the volunteers who “work diligently throughout the campaign to increase awareness and engage givers.” 

“Through social media posts, videos, and weekly drawings, they highlight the efforts of various offices and departments and encourage a little friendly competition,” he said.

Gifts can be donated either to one of the independent charities or to one of the three federated charitable organizations, including Community Shares, Creating Healthier Communities and local United Ways. 

Employees can contribute immediately to the campaign online by going to https://mtsu.edu/mtsucares and following a link there to an online giving form.

University Provost Mark Byrnes reassumed possession of the Provost’s Cup from the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, which has won the trophy the past 11 years for the most participation in the campaign as part of a friendly competition among the academic colleges.

While Byrnes recognized the Jones College’s success, he encouraged other colleges to rally their faculty and staff to wrestle the cup away. “Each new campaign brings a new opportunity for the other colleges to claim the Provost’s Cup,” Byrnes said.

Joyce Heames, dean of the Jones College, reminded the campus community that every donation, no matter the amount, makes a difference in the community. 

“But I encourage us all to count our blessing and to give even the smallest amounts,” Heames said. “The (Provost Cup) is based on the percentage of people who give, not the amount given. Small gifts add up and can lift these noteworthy nonprofits to a new level and allow them to offer services beyond their current means to help more people.”

Andrew Oppmann, vice president for marketing and communications, concluded the event by reminding participants of the weekly prize drawings every Thursday of the campaign that allow faculty and staff the chance to win True Blue gear, including reserved parking spaces for the 2025 spring and fall semesters.

“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,” Oppmann said.

— Maddy Williams (Maddy.Williams@mtsu.edu)