MTSU’s annual Charitable Giving Campaign, a monthlong effort by the university’s faculty and staff to raise money for worthy causes, kicks off Monday, Oct. 1, with a goal of $125,000.

President Sidney A. McPhee and Provost Mark Byrnes unveiled the goal at a recent gathering in the lobby of the Cope Administration Building to thank volunteer organizers of last year’s campaign, which met and exceeded its goal of $120,000.

“It’s my pleasure to announce that we’ve set a goal of $125,000 for the 2018-19 campaign, which begins Oct. 1 and runs throughout the month,” McPhee said. “Given our performance last year, I am very hopeful that we will not only meet that goal but also exceed it.”

A video of the announcement can be viewed above.

Last year’s MTSU campaign resulted in pledges totaling $128,593.04 — a new record for the campaign and 107 percent of last year’s goal — from 813 participants.

The campaign is fueled largely by monthly payroll deductions from MTSU employees but also allows one-time, lump-sum gifts at the donor’s discretion. Participants can designate gifts to organizations from a list of 10 independent charities and three federated groups of charities, including Community Health Charities, Community Shares, and local United Way organizations.

“Giving is an integral part of what it really means to be True Blue,” McPhee said, “so I must again say ‘thank you’ to all of our employees who chose to share a portion of their blessings with others in our community.”

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee addresses employees at a gathering to recognize the employee committee organizing this year’s Charitable Giving Campaign and announce the new goal of $125,000. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Byrnes thanked the faculty and academic units for their tradition of participation in the campaign. He also accepted the return of the Provost Cup from Dr. David Urban, dean of the Jones College of Business.

The college with the highest percentage of employee participation each year receives the cup.

“For the fifth straight year, the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, represented by Dean David Urban, was the winner of the cup,” Byrnes said. “The college captured the cup with roughly 79 percent of employees participating, up from about 75 percent last year.

“But with each new campaign comes a new opportunity for the other colleges to claim the Provost’s Cup.”

Urban cited the recent prosperity of the Middle Tennessee region, saying, “Even though we have experienced all that growth, what that means is the need for the type of organizations that we support through this campaign gets even greater.”

Employees can contribute to the campaign by going the Charitable Giving Campaign’s website: www.mtsu.edu/givemtsu. On the site, employees can find a link to the online giving form, follow the instructions and designate the charity of choice.

Participants’ names will be entered into a drawing for “True Blue” gear at noon Thursday during each week of the campaign, as well as four reserved parking spaces for a year. Weekly winners will be announced each Friday during the campaign in a video emailed to campus.

All employees are eligible for the drawings, even those who choose not to give, as long as they register at the campaign website.

— Andrew Oppmann (andrew.oppmann@mtsu.edu)