President’s Message: A Major Milestone Achieved

The message below is being sent on behalf of Meredith College President Jo Allen, ’80.

Meredith students, faculty, and staff,

In addition to celebrating the College’s 132nd birthday, we hit a major milestone last week that illustrates just how deep the love is for Meredith College and how strong the institution and our community are.

For the first time since the inception of Giving Day eight years ago, we raised more than $1.3 million in 24 hours. More than 2,600 alumnae, parents and families, faculty and staff, students, and friends of the College contributed $1,329,823 by midnight on February 28, exceeding the goal by more than $300,000. The money raised will allow us to improve facilities, make programming enhancements, and provide greater support to students in need.

Thank you all for your role in making Giving Day so successful. Every gift, every display of your Meredith pride, and every social media post encouraging others to give made a difference.

Reaching the $1.3 million mark on Giving Day 2023 is one of many successes we have celebrated this academic year. We opened CHESS, a fully accessible new academic building for our communication and health, exercise, and sport sciences programs. We began using our newly renovated food and nutrition lab, launched a success coaching initiative, and commemorated the 50th anniversary of our Wings – Adult Education program.

As we reflect on these accomplishments, many more highlights are still to come this year. On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, we will present the Woman of Achievement Award to Tony-award-winning performer Beth Leavel, ’77, with a public lecture at 7 p.m. in Jones Auditorium. On Thursday, April 13, we will hold a day-long, campus-wide event Celebrating Student Achievement. And, on Saturday, May 13, we will celebrate our graduates during commencement exercises in the courtyard.

This is truly a remarkable, thriving community that I know will continue to achieve great things together.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jo Allen, ’80