An annual day of giving around the world, Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3 will offer University of Mississippi alumni and friends the opportunity to support worthwhile projects 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.”
Those 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 gameday 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 we can attract and retain the best students, faculty and staff. The Ole Miss Fund touches every corner of campus life, including scholarships, groundbreaking innovations, technology and more.
- 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 and deliver the official game ball to the annual Ole Miss vs. MSU football matchup. The Egg Bowl 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 take home a complete outfit free each semester, and they are provided personalized assistance from a professional who helps with fitting and styling.
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Those 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 gameday weekends. Living Music Resource™: goal $3,500 — LMR provides Ole Miss students with unique 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. LMR is dedicated to bringing acclaimed professionals to Mississippi, including GRAMMY award winners, Pulitzer Prize recipients and performers from Broadway to the Metropolitan Opera, in addition to showcasing Mississippi’s 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 incredible promise as young leaders.
- Jennifer Lawrence Bordelon Ole Miss Women’s Council (OMWC) Leadership Fund — Through this fund, the life of Bordelon, a talented young Ole Miss alumna, is being remembered. After Bordelon graduated from Ole Miss, she earned a juris doctor degree 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, creator, mentor, friend and an accomplished alumnus of UM’s School of Journalism and New Media, died unexpectedly at age 32. His success as a student led him to Atlanta, where he joined Turner Broadcasting as the 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’s life ended tragically in 2004 after her sophomore year at Ole Miss. This scholarship preserves her memory and 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, visit https://ignite.olemiss.edu. For more information, contact Maura Langhart, senior director of Annual Giving, at ag@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2760.
By Tina H. Hahn/UM Development