Big Visions Lead to Major Impact
Good morning!
Today is the second day of competition for the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship, Mississippi’s only PGA TOUR stop, at the Country Club of Jackson. Many of the best golfers in the world are in Jackson this week in hopes of lifting the tournament’s trophy, Reveille, on Sunday. Tournament week always offers fans a lot of fun and excitement, whether they’re watching the action in person or through the national TV broadcast.
For four days, Thursday through Sunday, the world of golf and sports in general is focused on Mississippi. Lucky for us, and for all Mississippians, the tournament means more than just amazing golf shots. There’s also a significant impact on our ability to treat kids in this state who need general and specialty medical care. You may not be aware that all the activities leading up to and surrounding the tournament action have a deeper purpose, raising money for Children’s of Mississippi and other charities.
When in 2013 it was announced that Sanderson Farms, the Laurel-based chicken company now known as Wayne-Sanderson Farms, would be the golf tournament’s title sponsor, we could have never known the growth it would experience and how much money would be raised for Mississippi’s only children’s hospital. And all of it has been a testament to the "big vision" of Joe Sanderson Jr., CEO and board chair of Sanderson Farms. He and his wife, Kathy, wanted to do as much as they could for all kids in this state and Children’s of Mississippi, where their granddaughter, Sophie, had previously received excellent care. In that timeframe, more than $12.5 million has been donated to Friends of Children’s Hospital through Century Club Charities, the tournament’s host organization.
The tournament is a visible example of what philanthropy can do for our institution. Our Office of Development and Alumni Engagement works with donors, alumni, employees, community partners, foundations, corporations and others daily to help support the Medical Center’s mission areas. The Sanderson Tower is another beautiful example of what philanthropy can do. And there are thousands of donors each year who help provide scholarships to deserving students in all schools, assist with the purchase of needed equipment and supplies for patients and support the critical research happening within our institution.
Kathy and Joe took their commitment to Children’s even further when they agreed to chair the campaign to raise $100 million for the children’s hospital expansion tower that now bears their names. Under their leadership and determination, the Medical Center’s largest ever fundraising campaign surpassed its goal, raising $101.5 million. The impact from their efforts and those of the thousands of others who followed their lead will be felt in our state for generations. This is why we put effort into fundraising. What can be accomplished with the support of our friends and supporters is immeasurable.
Since 2021, we've seen a steady increase in the number and overall amount of philanthropic support for the Medical Center. In the last three years, we have raised more than $30 million each year, including around $3 million annually through community business support. In FY24, more than 4,500 donors, including more than 1,400 UMMC employees, helped move our mission forward. (And by the way, employee giving week is coming up Oct. 14-18, when you will be able to give through payroll deduction.)
As we look ahead, our current "big vision" is building a state-of-the-art facility to house the excellent work of our growing Cancer Center and Research Institute, led by Dr. Rod Rocconi, the Ergon Chair of Cancer Research. We are in the early stages of what will be the largest capital campaign ever at UMMC, and with the help of many like you, we will not only meet our building goal but also our goal to attain National Cancer Institute designation. With philanthropic support and a bold vision, we can transform cancer outcomes for all Mississippians and take a giant leap forward toward A Healthier Mississippi.