Foundation News

A Remarkable Woman, an Unforgettable Gift and a Legacy Beyond Compare

Photos courtesy of University Archives

Hattiesburg native Oseola McCarty’s unexpected planned gift to The University of Southern Mississippi made global news in the mid-’90s, not because it was the largest gift ever made, but because the woman behind the gift captured the hearts of all who heard her story.

In 1995, McCarty designated USM as the beneficiary of a $150,000 planned gift, forever changing philanthropy at the University. As an 87-year-old laundress who lived frugally, this gift represented the majority of her life savings. An endowment was established in her name, and to date, $568,158 in scholarships have been awarded to students from south Mississippi. Her endowment will continue her impact in perpetuity.

McCarty attended Eureka Elementary School. Starting at the age of eight, she worked after school beside her mother Lucy, grandmother Julia and aunt Evelyn. She began stashing away money she earned for safekeeping in her doll buggy.

Her childhood dream was to become a nurse, but she left school in the sixth grade to care for her ill aunt and never made it back to the classroom. For 75 years, McCarty took in laundry and ironing work until arthritis forced her to stop.

McCarty said, “I loved to work, and when you love to do anything, those things don’t bother you. Sometimes I worked straight through two or three days. I had goals I was working toward.”

113 STUDENTS IMPACTED BY THE OSEOLA MCCARTY SCHOLARSHIP

An article in Ebony

Magazine shows

McCarty meeting

President Bill Clinton in 1995 to receive the Presidential Citizens Medal. In 1996, she was invited to flip the switch and drop the famous Times Square ball on New Year’s Eve.

Oseola McCarty Scholars Program and Scholarship

The Oseola McCarty Scholars Program honors her strong work ethic, giving heart and love for helping others. McCarty Scholars participate in activities centered around financial literacy, research, career planning and community involvement. They gain access to a customized curriculum and mentorship opportunities to foster their personal development.

Over the history of the program, the number of students impacted has steadily grown. In 1996, Hattiesburg residents Stephanie Bullock and Carletta Y. Barnes received scholarships. In the 2019-20 academic year alone, 18 students from across south Mississippi were awarded support to pursue their educations at USM.

“WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD, I CAN’T CARRY NOTHING AWAY FROM HERE. WHATEVER I HAVE, IT’S GOING TO BE LEFT RIGHT HERE FOR SOMEBODY. SOME CHILD CAN GET THEIR EDUCATION, TO HELP THEM ALONG, BECAUSE YOU CAN’T DO NOTHING NOW UNLESS YOU GET YOUR EDUCATION. I DON’T REGRET ONE SINGLE PENNY I GAVE TO THE COLLEGE. THE ONLY THING I REGRET IS THAT I DIDN’T HAVE MORE TO GIVE.” — OSEOLA MCCARTY —

HELP CELEBRATE AND JOIN MCCARTY’S LEGACY! McCarty’s example is a powerful reminder that no matter how humble one’s circumstances may be, there is always an opportunity to help someone else. She continues to inspire others with her outstanding and improbable act, exemplifying the generosity for which Mississippians are known. After the public found out what McCarty had done, over 800 people from across the nation made donations that more than tripled her original gift.

This fall, members of the Southern Miss community are invited to a virtual celebration of the life and legacy of Oseola McCarty. The festivities will also applaud those who share McCarty’s passion for the gift of education and have joined her mission through contributions of their own.

For the Oseola McCarty Scholarship Endowment to support 20 students annually in perpetuity, each receiving $2,000 for educational expenses, the corpus must reach $1 million. The USM Foundation staff invites you to be a part of McCarty’s incredible story by helping raise $370,000 to bolster the scholarship.

For more information about the celebration surrounding the 25th anniversary of her gift, or to make a contribution to the Oseola McCarty Scholarship Endowment, visit usmfoundation.com/mccarty.

In addition to facilitating the Oseola McCarty Scholars Program, the University honors McCarty through the USM Foundation McCarty Legacy, a society that recognizes the foresight of those who are helping to secure the future of Southern Miss through planned giving. To learn more about including the USM Foundation in your estate plans, contact Daniel Barton at 601.266.6428 or daniel.barton@usm.edu. You can also visit usmfoundation.com/plannedgiving.

Meet the Newest Development Staff Members

Although social-distancing guidelines have kept USM Foundation staff from visiting with members of the Southern Miss community in person, our team will continue conversing from a safe distance until we can meet together again. When visitors return to campus, two new faces will be found in the Trent Lott Center.

Mike Smith | Major Gift Officer

A native of Eden, N.C., Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from North Carolina State University. Mike’s wife, Katy, grew up in Laurel, Miss., and the couple is happy to call the Pine Belt home now.

“Katy and I are thrilled to join the Southern Miss family,” said Mike. “I count it a privilege to be a part of this team and appreciate the genuine welcome! I can’t wait for the chance to meet our alumni and connect them back to the people and programs they love the most.”

Most recently, Mike worked as associate athletic director for external relations for Limestone University in South Carolina. He is well-prepared for his new role at USM due to his experience in athletic development for Arkansas State University and Florida Atlantic University, in addition to athletic sponsorships and marketing knowledge he gained during his tenures at The University of Mississippi, The University of North Carolina and The Georgia Institute of Technology.

Nancy Perry | Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer

Nancy moved to Mississippi from Virginia this spring to join the USM Foundation staff. This opportunity will allow her to live closer to family in the area while applying her experience to developing deeper and broader relationships with corporate and foundation supporters of Southern Miss.

“Recently, a life-changing event related to my father’s health brought me to the excellent health care system in Hattiesburg and the beautiful state of Mississippi,” said Nancy. “I am excited to enter into my new role at USM and increase philanthropic support for the students and extraordinary instruction, research and innovation taking place here.”

She previously served as director of stewardship at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, eastern regional director for InterExchange, director of marketing and membership for WHRO-TV/WHRV-FM Public Broadcasting, and executive director of the Virginia Beach Hotel Association.

A native Virginian, Nancy earned a degree in journalism with a concentration in marketing and public relations from Radford University. She is a mother of three: Lydia, a senior at Old Dominion University; Marielle, a junior at Savannah College of Art and Design; and Nicholas, a fifth-grader at Cape Henry Collegiate School in Virginia Beach.

GOLDEN EAGLE

SUMMER 2020

IMPACT

The Golden Eagle Impact Report quarterly recognizes donors who make gifts to Southern Miss through the USM Foundation at or exceeding $25,000.

JIMMY A. PAYNE FOUNDATION • $536,500

SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS

RON ’86 AND ANGELA ’84 BARNES • $25,000

SUPPORTING VITAL PROGRAMS

THE BOWER FOUNDATION • $32,472

THE JOE W. AND DOROTHY DORSETT BROWN FOUNDATION • $40,000

THE MAPP FAMILY FOUNDATION • $45,000

THE PAUL & SHERRY BROADHEAD FOUNDATION • $75,000

LEAV ING A LEGACY

KATHRYN GREENE ’71

PATRICIA WALTERS ’72

ESTATE OF W. C. SHOEMAKER • $119,121 (second estate gift)