South Employees, Retirees Raise $720K

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Posted on May 16, 2017

Marketing and Communications

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University of South Alabama employees and retirees raised nearly $720,000 for academic and health care advancements during the 14th Employee and Retiree Annual Fund. The fundraiser is part of South’s Upward & Onward comprehensive campaign, which passed the $100 million mark this spring.

"I am so very proud of our employees, unit representatives and leadership throughout the USA health system during this annual campaign,” said Dr. Michael Finan, director of the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, who served as a campaign co-chair representing health care units. “We made significant measurable progress by every single measure compared to last year. The funds raised will help us achieve our triune mission of excellence in health care, research and education.”

“Through the giving of South's employees and retirees, we are able to add scholarships for well-deserving students and research infrastructure for faculty,” said Dr. Andrea Kent, College of Education dean and campaign co-chair representing academic units. “The campaign also was instrumental in Upward & Onward reaching the $100 million milestone. I’m not surprised, because the South family has always stepped up and contributed to the University’s success. We are South!”

Since the inception of the Employee and Retiree Annual Fund, $7.4 million has been raised, including matching gifts.

The amount raised this year — $719,995, including matching gifts — marks a 15 percent increase from 2016. A total of 3,264 employees and retirees contributed, up 4 percent from last year. There were 147 Leadership Givers, those who donated at least $1,000, up 13 percent from 2016.

Retiree giving alone increased 30 percent over last year, said Dr. Carl Moore, former dean of the Mitchell College of Business and campaign co-chair representing retirees.

The Employee and Retiree Annual Fund provides resources to advance the University by, among other ways:

• Increasing the number of scholarships available to students.
• Recruiting top faculty and health care providers.
• Ensuring that USA's health care and academic programs remain state-of-the-art.

Upward & Onward: A Campaign for the University of South Alabama is a $150 million fundraising campaign that will elevate and accelerate every aspect of USA's mission — education, research, service, health care, economic development, athletics, and the arts and humanities. Five focused priorities form the components of the Upward & Onward campaign: Student Access and Success; Enhancement of Research and Graduate Education; Global Engagement; Excellence in Health Care; and University-Community Engagement.

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