APRIL 2019 Giving and Growing

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Spring brings philanthropy growth

Published on Friday, April 19, 2019

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

Gardens aren’t the only places blooming this spring. The Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi has blossomed with donations from spring fundraisers.

RebelTHON, a dance marathon hosted each year by University of Mississippi students, raised $258,252 to help complete UMMC’s pediatric expansion. The announcement came Feb. 16 amid music, strobe lights and dancing.

Hundreds of University of Mississippi students cap off fundraising efforts with the 2019 RebelTHON dance marathon.

Hundreds of University of Mississippi students cap off fundraising efforts with the 2019 RebelTHON dance marathon.

A marathon of another type, the Mississippi Miracles Radiothon, raised $502,119 Feb. 27-March 1. It was the third time the event raised more than $500,000. Construction of the seven-story expansion adjacent to Batson Children’s Hospital caused the location of the live broadcast to be moved to the Norman C. Nelson Student Union on the UMMC campus.

Twelve of the Radio People’s largest stations -- US 96.3, Mix 98.7, Y101.7, Blues 93.1 and 93.5 The Legend in Jackson; River 101.3, KHits 104.5 and 92.7 the Touch in Vicksburg; and 97 OKK, Q 101, 95.1 the Beat and Kiss 104.1 in Meridian -- broadcast the Children’s of Mississippi story this year. The Mississippi Miracles Radiothon has raised more than $6 million since its first broadcast in 2001.

Showing the amount raised during the 18th Mississippi Miracles Radiothon are, from left, Tara Cumberland and her daughter, Sybil, De’Nahri Middleton, De’Niylah Middleton, De’Nahjae Middleton, Hannah Dunaway and Decimbra Middleton.

Showing the amount raised during the 18th Mississippi Miracles Radiothon are, from left, Tara Cumberland and her daughter, Sybil, De’Nahri Middleton, De’Niylah Middleton, De’Nahjae Middleton, Hannah Dunaway and Decimbra Middleton.

More philanthropic growth has come from the Shamrocks for Tots campaign. Close to 50 businesses, including banks, salons, stores and restaurants throughout the state, have offered the paper Shamrocks for a $1 donation each.

“These gifts to the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi show the generosity of Mississippians and the concern they have for the children of this state,” said Jen Hospodor, director of community partnerships at UMMC. “We are so thankful for their support. Every gift matters in this effort.”