'Today.Tomorrow.Forever' generates over $40 million
Mississippi State Athletics has received private gifts and pledges to the "Today.Tomorrow.Forever" athletic facilities initiative of more than $40 million since January 2011, the Bulldog Club announced March 6. The initiative solicits major gift donations -- which are separate from priority seating obligations -- to construct, renovate and expand Mississippi State's athletic facilities.
Of the $40 million figure, $26 million went toward the construction of the recently opened Leo W. Seal, Jr. Football Complex. Over $3 million has been raised specifically toward the $7 million goal of expanding and renovating Davis Wade Stadium, while the remaining $10 million plus are either planned gifts to the Bulldog Club or are being invested in other athletic department projects.
The largest donation in the past two years was a $12 million gift by the Leo W. Seal, Jr. family of Bay St. Louis. The Bulldog Club also received five gifts and pledges of $1 million or more in the past 26 months, 10 additional gifts of over $500,000 and 22 more gifts over $100,000 in that same time period.
"We're incredibly proud of the philanthropic support our Bulldog Club donors have provided our coaches and student-athletes over the past two years," Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said. "While several athletic departments throughout the country have seen a decline in private support, the Bulldog Family continues to be relentless in pledging major gift donations, which have allowed our department to construct and maintain first-class facilities for our student-athletes, coaches and fans.
The Bulldog Club kicks off the next phase of "Today.Tomorrow.Forever" this month with a direct mail and e-mail piece encouraging donors and season ticket holders to watch a video showing True Maroon fans describing their favorite memories of Davis Wade Stadium. Donors can request information regarding "Today.Tomorrow.Forever" as well as premium seating in the new north end zone at Davis Wade Stadium, by filling out and submitting their information on the video's online landing page.
Major gifts to "Today.Tomorrow.Forever" can also be applied to current and upcoming projects such as the expansion and renovation of Davis Wade Stadium, the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre and the MSU Softball Stadium, a newly constructed Golf Clubhouse for men's and women's golf teams and new and renovated locker rooms for soccer and men's and women's basketball programs.
Any gift made to the initiative will count towards donors' priority ranking in the Bulldog Club. A donor's Bulldog Club rank will determine when they will select their seats during the reseating of Davis Wade Stadium prior to the 2014 football season.
For more information on the Bulldog Club and how to give, visit www.MSUBulldogClub.com or contact the Bulldog Club at 662-325-3074.
For additional information about Mississippi State athletics, please visit HailState.com.
