Giving TWOsday doubles campaign donations through April 30

Published on Thursday, April 25, 2019

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

When it comes to donations to the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi, gifts made now through April 30 are twice as nice.

Dubbed Giving TWOsday, April 30 will bring a boost to the fund drive, also known as the Growing campaign, to help complete UMMC’s pediatric expansion. Through a pledge from an anonymous donor, all gifts made to the campaign through this Tuesday will be doubled, up to a total of $250,000.

“We are so grateful for this gift, which will enable all gifts to the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi to go twice as far,” said Dr. Mary Taylor, Suzan B. Thames Chair, professor and chair of Pediatrics. “Our donors, working together, can multiply the impact of their gifts.”

To help spread the word about this opportunity, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and his wife Abby, honorary chairs of the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi, filmed a video to share online and in social media.

“Thanks to a generous donor, every gift … will be matched, dollar for dollar,” Eli Manning said. “The goal is to raise at least $250,000.”

Giving TWOsday will be celebrated at The District at Eastover in Jackson from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Fine & Dandy will feature specials to help in the fund drive, and face painting and a live Y101 radio broadcast will also be part of the day’s events.

Launched in 2016, the campaign has raised more than $72 million in philanthropy to help complete the seven-story hospital tower. Sanderson Farms CEO and board chairman Joe Sanderson Jr. and his wife, Kathy, chairs of the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi, started the $100 million drive with a personal gift of $10 million.

The $180 million expansion will include 88 private neonatal intensive care rooms, 10 surgical suites, additional space for pediatric intensive care, an imaging center designed for children and an outpatient specialty clinic with a parking garage nearby.

The tower, which will more than double the square footage dedicated to pediatric care at UMMC, will move from its current structural phase to interior finishing this summer. The expansion is set to open in fall 2020.

“Challenge your teammate, partner or sidekick to give,” Eli Manning said. “Make a gift today … and help us get a win for the children of Mississippi.”

To join the Giving TWOsday team, make a donation online or by phone at (601) 984-2300. To keep up with the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi, visit growchildrens.org.