United Way Drive Winding Up at Mississippi College

President Royce

Mississippi College faculty and staff are completing the school’s 2017 United Way drive with more than $16,133 collected in recent weeks.

Since 2008, the Baptist-affiliated university remains the United Way leader among Jackson area colleges. The United Way trophy showing that MC achievement remains on display at the Community Service Center on the Clinton campus. MC employees raised more than $150,000 over the previous seven years to help charitable causes in metro Jackson.

The new total this Fall will boost MC support to United Way to more than $166,000 over eight years.

Mississippi College employees are delighted to give whether their dollars enhance the Magnolia Speech School, the Shelter for Battered Women and Children or the 4C’s in Clinton.

Shari Barnes successfully coordinated United Way campaigns at Mississippi College for nearly a decade. The director of MC’s Community Service Center, Shari collects every United Way dollar she can find. Her faithful work is paying dividends.

Laurie Lawson, director of the 4C’s and leader of the MC social work program, says it’s a joy to get solid support from campus colleagues. Her non-profit agency helps seniors travel to medical appointments and operates a thrift store for low-income Mississippians.

President Lee Royce, an active United Way leader since 1993, applauds the MC family for their strong support of campus drives.

A donation of $50 will provide a week’s worth of fuel for one of the transportation vans at the Magnolia Speech School or Willowood Preschool. A $30 gift will buy a child a book per month for an entire year through the Imagination Library.

United Way of the Capital Area donations support terrific causes to benefit three dozen agencies in Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties.

MC campaigns were wrapping up December 6 on the Clinton campus and School of Law in downtown Jackson.

“I believe this is a tremendous way to address so many needs,” Royce said. Plenty of children, single moms and seniors count on United Way donations each year, he noted.

Melanie Fortenberry, director of MC’s graduate programs in health administration, is a regular United Way giver. “It benefits others and costs me very little,” says the Clinton resident.

Worldwide, United Way raises more than $5 billion every year. The money comes from 9.6 million donors.

Barnes isn’t just rallying for United Way dollars. The Community Service Center leader is sparking an Angel Tree project at Mississippi College to benefit the children with parents in Mississippi prisons. Faculty, staff, students and alumni are pitching in.

Boys and girls in Central Mississippi communities will receive Christmas gifts to brighten their holiday season. Twenty more angels still need to be adopted before the drive ends at Mississippi College.

For more information, contact Shari Barnes at 601-925-3267 or sbarnes@mc.edu