[104] MTSU employees kick off 2017 Charitable Giving Campaign

Middle Tennessee State University kicked off its 2017 Charitable Giving Campaign on Wednesday, with volunteers expressing hopes that faculty and staff contributions will repeat the $120,000-plus raised in last year’s effort.

President Sidney A. McPhee and Provost Mark Byrnes, speaking at the Employee Benefits Fair sponsored by MTSU’s Human Resources Services, thanked and challenged employees to continue MTSU’s tradition of giving.

“Our Charitable Giving Campaign is indeed one of MTSU’s pride points,” McPhee said. “It underscores again the enormous impact and force for good that our university and its employees provide to the communities we serve.”

This year’s campaign officially starts Oct. 1 and will continue through the first week of November.  An electronic giving form, along with detailed information about the campaign and the charitable organizations that have registered for the effort, can be found at www.mtsu.edu/givemtsu.

Gifts may be designated to any charitable organization from a list of 10 independent charities and three federated charitable organizations including Community Health Charities, Community Shares, and local United Ways.

The campaign, managed by a committee of volunteers from every division of the university, is fueled largely by monthly payroll deductions from MTSU employees, but also allows one-time, lump-sum gifts at the donor’s discretion.

The committee will draw attention and awareness to the campaign throughout October through social media posts, video features, weekly prize drawings and spotlighting engagement efforts by offices throughout the university, said Andrew Oppmann, vice president for marketing and communications.

McPhee told the crowd assembled at the James Union Building that he was proud that more than 730 staff members participated in last year’s campaign, which raised $121,122.

“The theme of this year’s campaign is Tradition of Giving, and I am very impressed, and very proud, with our tradition of giving at MTSU,” the president said.

Byrnes took possession of the Provost Cup, awarded to the academic unit having the highest rate of employee participation, from David Urban, dean of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business. The college secured the cup in 2016 for the fourth consecutive year with roughly 75 percent of its employees participating in the campaign.

“We’re just lending this to you,” said Urban, as he handed the cup back to Byrnes.

Urban, who is also serving as this year’s development chair for the community-wide campaign on behalf of the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, also used Wednesday’s event to present a trophy to MTSU for being among the Top 10 United Way campaigns in 2016.

McPhee said he hoped faculty and staff would again join first lady Elizabeth McPhee and him in renewing their gifts to the Charitable Giving Campaign.

“Your generosity and giving spirit have improved, even saved, lives and made our cities, counties and region better places for us all,” he said.

Anyone with questions about this year’s Employee Charitable Giving Campaign should contact Allison McGoffin in the Office of the Provost at 615-898-2953 or Tara Hollins in Marketing and Communications at 615-494-7800.