The M-Club Alumni Chapter of the Ole Miss Alumni Association has announced the commitment of a new $1.5 million gift to the Forward Together Campaign. After giving $1 million in 2012, the M-Club has now donated $2.5 million since the start of the campaign, bringing the campaign total to over $160 million.
"The M-Club Alumni Chapter is excited to continue to play a significant role in the Forward Together Campaign,” said M-Club President Todd Sandroni. “We are also honored that some of the funds from our latest donation will be applied toward the letterwinner walk and plaza, which specifically recognizes the contributions and achievements of the very group we represent."
"The projects associated with the Forward Together Campaign provide another opportunity for M-Club alumni to support and remain actively involved with Ole Miss Athletics,” added Clay Cavett, associate director of alumni affairs. “These initiatives will continue to propel our athletics program forward, and we are proud to be a part of that momentum.”
The $1.5 million commitment will be split in half between baseball and football initiatives. Specifically, the organization will put $500,000 towards the Jake Gibbs Letterwinner Walk. The letterwinner walk will honor every Ole Miss athlete who ever earned a letter competing for Ole Miss and will also be part of the Walk of Champions, which will connect to the new entrance to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium's north end zone. The letterwinner walk and plaza associated with it will be unveiled in late 2016.
“To see the M-Club, comprised of former student-athletes, committing to the future of Ole Miss Athletics is proof that all Rebels are part of one big family,” said Ole Miss Director of Athletics Ross Bjork. “This additional $1.5 million donation will go a long way with the plans we have set for the future.”
The large donation by the M-Club helps the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation, seeking to raise $1 million to honor Gibbs for the letterwinner walk. The foundation is hoping to reach the project goal by March 2016.
“As an M-Club member and working in the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation, I’m proud to see so many Rebels come together to support the Forward Together campaign,” said Keith Carter, senior associate A.D. for development/athletics foundation executive director. “This generous commitment pushes us past the halfway point for our goal towards the Letterwinner Walk. We hope this gift will encourage others to step up and contribute to this worthy cause.”
To directly donate towards the Jake Gibbs Letterwinner Walk and support Ole Miss Athletics, click here.
About M-Club
The M-Club Alumni Chapter of the Ole Miss Alumni Association provides the opportunity for letterwinners to maintain relationships across different sports, generations and geographical locations, and allows them to remain actively involved in Ole Miss Athletics. The M-Club is open to all former letterwinners in varsity athletics. For further eligibility information or questions, please contact: mclub@olemiss.edu.
About the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation
The Ole Miss Athletics Foundation is the fundraising department of Ole Miss Athletics and provides resources for student-athletes through scholarships, facilities, coaches’ compensation and other areas of the programs. For more information about the foundation and its initiatives, visit http://www.givetoathletics.com or call 662-915-7159.