University emphasizes eight crowdfunding campaigns for annual fundraising drive
University of Mississippi alumni and friends can tap into the holiday spirit and make a difference in students’ lives this Tuesday.
Set for December 3, 2024, Giving Tuesday features several opportunities to support worthwhile projects that directly benefit students on the Oxford campus. This year, the university focuses on building support for eight crowdfunding campaigns under Ignite Ole Miss, including the Ole Miss Fund, the Career Closet, Army ROTC Egg Bowl Run, Ole Miss Opportunity Scholarships, and the Living Music Resource.
“We’re encouraging Ole Miss alumni and friends to celebrate Giving Tuesday by supporting this crucial fundraising effort with a gift and by sharing Ignite Ole Miss projects on social media and with their family and friends,” said Maura Langhart, senior director of annual giving. “Together, through these worthwhile initiatives, we can make a difference in students’ lives.”
Donors who give $18.48 to any project on Giving Tuesday will receive a pair of “Trash Can Friday” socks, featuring the iconic red and blue bins that dot the Grove on football weekends.
Participants can choose one of the following Ole Miss crowdfunding campaigns to support:
- Ole Miss Fund – Gifts to this fund address the university’s most pressing needs and provide unrestricted support to ensure UM can attract and retain the best students, faculty and staff. The Ole Miss Fund touches every corner of campus life, including scholarships, educational innovations and technology.
- Army ROTC Egg Bowl Run: goal $5,000 – The Egg Bowl Run annually brings together Army ROTC cadets from Ole Miss and Mississippi State University to complete an 80-mile run between Oxford and Starkville to deliver the official game ball to the annual Ole Miss vs. MSU football matchup. The run attracts support for the Magnolia Battalion’s activities, training exercises, team-building opportunities and cadet competitions, preparing these future officers to excel in the Army and life.
- Career Closet: goal $4,000 – The Ole Miss Career Closet provides students, no matter their financial situation, with professional attire to help them feel their best and launch their careers with confidence, without the stress of financial barriers. Each student can get a complete outfit free each semester, and a professional provides personalized assistance with fitting and styling.
- Living Music Resource: goal $3,500 – LMR provides Ole Miss students with educational experiences that enhance their music degrees. Through live-streamed events, LMR has raised the visibility of the Lafayette-Oxford-University community through its international viewing audience. The resource helps bring professionals to campus, including Grammy award winners, Pulitzer Prize recipients and performers from Broadway to the Metropolitan Opera. It also showcases Mississippi artists.
- Ole Miss Opportunity Scholarship –Through this program and other resources, Ole Miss is making education realistic for Mississippi residents from lower-income families. By giving, donors support students who show promise as young leaders.
- Jennifer Lawrence Bordelon Ole Miss Women’s Council Leadership Fund – This fund honors the life of Bordelon, a talented Ole Miss alumna who died in 2022. After Bordelon graduated from Ole Miss, she earned a Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law and worked as a political consultant and strategist. This fund will provide income for operating the leadership-mentorship aspect of the OMWC Scholarship program.
- Oscar Pope Memorial Scholarship – Pope, an alumnus of the UM School of Journalism and New Media, died suddenly at age 32. He worked for Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta as marketing coordinator for the NBA on TNT and NBA TV. His work on “Inside the NBA” and “NBA Roadshow” and development of NBA legend Charles Barkley’s “Guarantee Button” distinguished his career at Turner. Donors can honor Pope’s life and legacy through this scholarship for future journalism and new media students.
- Carnesha Nelson Memorial Scholarship – Nelson, a criminal justice major, died in 2004 after her sophomore year at Ole Miss. This memorial scholarship helps School of Applied Sciences students pursue educational opportunities.
Occurring annually on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday is a global initiative, countering the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and redirecting the focus to acts of kindness and charitable giving, according to Classy.org.
All philanthropic contributions to the University of Mississippi Foundation are tax-deductible. To give online, click here. For more information, contact Maura Langhart at ag@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2760.
By Tina H. Hahn
Donors who give $18.48 to a project on Giving Tuesday will receive a pair of ‘Trash Can Friday’ socks, featuring the iconic red and blue bins that dot the Grove on football weekends.
