Contact: Amy Cagle
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Two months ahead of schedule, Mississippi State is taking its "StatePride: An Initiative for Student and Faculty Support" beyond its $100 million goal.
The MSU Foundation announced today [Oct. 19] that, as of mid-October, gifts and commitments have brought more than $104 million to the university. StatePride continues through December of this year.
"This goal was an ambitious one, yet we reached it ahead of schedule. Credit for this tremendous success goes to the many alumni and friends who committed resources to be part of this effort to advance higher education in our state," said President Mark E. Keenum. "These funds are helping Mississippi State attract the best and brightest students and are enabling us to provide support to world-class faculty members who are the backbone of our institution."
StatePride began in 2009 with Keenum's inauguration as MSU's 19th chief executive. Since then:
--The initiative so far has raised more than $71 million for undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students;
--Just under $33 million has been received expressly for faculty support, including funds to establish more endowed positions in the form of chairs and professorships; and
--MSU's total number of privately endowed positions has reached 65, with 12 of those being planned through gifts not yet realized.
"While our overall $100 million goal has been exceeded, our larger purpose is to create a better, more responsive and more engaged university," said John P. Rush, vice president for development and alumni.
"We will continue to seek the support of our alumni and friends in fulfilling many of the university's ongoing needs and goals, and fundraising for scholarships and faculty positions will remain a priority beyond StatePride," Rush said.
In addition to continuing StatePride, the MSU Foundation currently is raising other private funds to help meet goals set forth in the 134-year-old land-grant institution's long-term strategic plan. The foundation currently is in the midst of its 50th anniversary year.
Chartered in 1962 to help attract private support, the foundation has raised more than $1 billion over the decades. From offices in the Hunter Henry Center, the organization administers most of MSU's fundraising activities and campus-based endowment funds.
Through Dec. 31, 2012, all gifts to MSU received for scholarships and endowed positions will count toward StatePride. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.msufoundation.com or e-mail Rush at rush@devalumni.msstate.edu. Also, follow the organization on Twitter @MSU_Foundation.