L e a d e r s h i p t h ro u g h c h a r i ta b l e g i v i n g
Taking the Lead
Spring 2014
“What I do is nothing as
special as the work they do.”
Arlene Mitchell
A Philanthropist Who Adds a Personal Touch
University of South Alabama Board of Trustees member, philanthropist and civic volunteer, Arlene Mitchell
is active in many roles in leading organizations throughout the Gulf Coast community. Fortunately, one of
her favorite volunteer roles is a regular stint at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at USA Children’s &
Women’s Hospital (CWH), where she spends time feeding and rocking premature babies.
And her involvement doesn’t stop there. During her visits to the NICU, Mrs. Mitchell has learned a lot
A Warm Welcome
The University of South Alabama welcomes Dr. Tony G. Waldrop as
its third president.
Waldrop comes to USA with a background of more than 30 years
as an accomplished researcher, teacher and administrator
in higher education. He most recently served as provost and
executive vice president at the University of Central Florida. His
background includes stints as vice chancellor for research and
economic development at his alma mater, the University of North
Carolina, and vice chancellor for research at the University of
Illinois.
Waldrop earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, a
Master’s in physical education and a Ph.D. in physiology, all
from the University of North Carolina. In addition to his academic
achievements he was a standout on the athletic field, winning two
NCAA championships as a mile runner and setting a world record
for the indoor mile in 1974 with a time of three minutes and 55
seconds.
A native of Columbus, N.C., Waldrop is married to Dr. Julee Briscoe
Waldrop, who holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Duke
University.
“In Tony Waldrop, we believe we have found the absolute best
person to lead the University of South Alabama as we begin our
next 50 years,” said Dr. Steve Furr, chairman of the USA Board
of Trustees and vice-chair of the USA’s Presidential Search
Committee.
Waldrop credits USA’s commitment to delivering a quality
education for students and serving the health needs of the central
Gulf Coast as motivations for his accepting the job. He has also
expressed the desire to continue the longstanding partnership
between the community and USA.
about the needs of the babies and their caregivers. The insights she has gained through conversations with
the nursing staff have encouraged her resolve to help raise the $750,000 needed to renovate the NICU.
“I’ve always loved that hospital,” said Mrs. Mitchell. “My history with that hospital goes way back.” Mrs.
Mitchell said that she and her late husband Mayer Mitchell, who served on USA’s Board of Trustees,
“always had an attachment” to the hospital and the University. Mrs. Mitchell replaced her husband on
USA’s Board of Trustees following his death. USA, she said, has been one of their primary philanthropic
efforts.
Volunteering her time to rock babies “has been therapy” for her, said Mrs. Mitchell, adding that it “makes
her feel good.” Doing hands-on things is much more rewarding,” she said. Mrs. Mitchell credits the women
and men who work in the NICU for being “so dedicated” to what they do. They are “some of the finest
people I ever had the pleasure to work with,” she observed.
“What I do is nothing as special as the work they do,” said Mrs. Mitchell. “The work they do up here is
unbelievable--Mobile is fortunate to have the facility and the people who work there.” In addition to being
Mobile’s leading hospital for deliveries, USA’s CWH is a unique resource for the only Level III neonatal
intensive care unit and pediatric intensive care unit in the region.
Mrs. Mitchell’s admiration is reciprocated. “She loves these babies,” Renee Rogers, nurse manager for
the NICU, said of Mrs. Mitchell’s volunteer work. “She is so sweet - she gives her time and effort.” Rogers
went on to say that Mrs. Mitchell’s work supplies a critical need because it “gives the bonding to our sweet
babies who do not have visitors and all babies need bonding time.”
Poarch Band Gift
New Holocaust Collection
The Gulf Coast Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education has
augmented the USA Marx Library through a gift that will provide students and
the public with a wealth of knowledge about the Holocaust. The gift, which
includes more than 500 books and other memorabilia, has established the Agnes
Tennenbaum Holocaust Library Collection, named in honor of the last known
Holocaust survivor living in Mobile.
The Center, located at the Ahavas Chesed Synagogue in Mobile, had been
collecting the books for a few years when the number of volumes reached 500
and a decision was made to give the collection to USA’s Marx Library so that it
could be more widely accessible.
Richard Wood, Dean of University Libraries said, “The value of this collection
is that the resources and information is available to anyone. Our mission is to
house the collection and catalog it so that the world knows it’s here.”
The Tennenbaum Collection will provide essential research materials of interest
to USA students, particularly those in the Jewish Studies program and others
who may study the Holocaust.
Buford Rolin, Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ chairman and Robert McGhee,
tribal government relations adviser accepting a resolution from the Board
of Trustees thanking the Escambia County, Ala., tribe for its gift.
The collection includes a copy a book written by Agnes Tennenbaum, “A Girl
Named Rose, My Holocaust Journey.” In the book, Tennenbaum gives her firsthand account of being a 17-year-old Jewish newlywed living in Hungary at the
beginning of WWII. The Gulf Coast Center for Holocaust and Human Rights
Education plans to enhance the collection through future contributions.
The new Poarch Band of Creek Indians Native American Studies Program
at the University of South Alabama is being called “a historic step.” This
vibrant new addition to the College of Arts and Science will focus on the
history, culture and modern life of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians,
along with other Native American groups.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has provided funds to establish
the Chief Calvin McGhee Endowed Professorship in Native American
Studies. This generosity will allow the college to offer at least two
courses annually in Native American Studies, revitalize the Native
American Student Organization, and support research by providing travel
scholarships and research assistantships.
Dr. Andrzej Wierzbicki, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, looks
forward to the implementation of the new academic offerings in the
Poarch Band of Creek Indians Native American Studies Program “to fill
a knowledge gap in the understanding of and appreciation for Native
American contributions to the history and culture in Alabama, in the
Southeast, and more broadly throughout the United States.” This new
program will also create special opportunities for USA students and
faculty to work with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
From left, Rickie Voit, co-chair of the Mobile Jewish Film Festival; Tennenbaum’s son,
Henry Schwarzberg, and his wife, Diane; Agnes Tennenbaum; Dr. Richard Wood, dean
of libraries; and Jerry Darring, curator for the Alabama Gulf Coast Holocaust Library.
Furrs Create a Legacy
Dr. Steven P. Furr and his wife, Lisa, have made a generous commitment to
Children’s & Women’s Hospital (CWH). The Furrs have long admired the vital
services that CWH provides for the Gulf Coast community and wanted to help make
a real difference in the lives of the patients and families the hospital serves. Through
a life insurance gift, the couple will add to their legacy of philanthropy along with
their other distinguished contributions to USA.
Steven and Lisa Furr have been a part of the USA family for decades. In addition to
earning his bachelor’s and medical degrees from USA, Dr. Furr serves as the chair
pro tempore of the Board of Trustees, of which he has been a member since 2006.
His service as vice-chair of the Presidential Search Committee that identified USA’s
third president, Dr. Tony Waldrop, will create an enduring effect on the course the
entire institution. He was honored by the USA National Alumni Association with a
Distinguished Alumni Award. The Furrs’ latest generous commitment will extend
the impact of their dedication to USA to the broader community through the
enhancements it will make possible in the services available through USA Children’s
& Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Steven P. Furr and his wife, Lisa, at MCI’s 2013 Celebrate Hope.
If you would like more information on this unique giving option,
please contact: Angela Dunn, associate director of planned giving
at 251.460.7906 or via e-mail at adunn@southalabama.edu
The Furrs are among a growing number of USA supporters who are discovering
that their generosity can create a substantially larger philanthropic impact through
a planned gift instrument. In years to come, the Furrs’ generous commitment will
support the CWH Excellence Endowment that has been established to address
priority needs, keep the hospital flexible and better able to plan strategically. The
1st Floor Lobby of CWH is being named to honor the couple’s generosity.
Employees Give Big
For more than a decade, USA’s strong tradition of employee giving has been
celebrated through the Employee Annual Fund Campaign. The recently
concluded 2014 campaign is the second most successful, creating a $664,192
impact through gifts and matching funds. More than half of employees made a
gift during the campaign, which raised a remarkable 34 percent more than last
year.
For the first time, retirees were represented by their own campaign chair,
Dr. Paul Helminger, professor emeritus of physics. USA’s retirees responded
with great generosity; their gifts and matching funds exceeded $100,000.
“We are grateful to our loyal and generous faculty, staff and retirees who
give from their hearts and make a positive change for those we serve,” said
Dr. Joseph F. Busta Jr., vice president for development and alumni relations.
“For many, their gifts are a symbolic demonstration of appreciation for what
USA has provided to them and their families. In turn, we are able to provide
for others.”
Every department and program benefits from gifts to the Employee Annual
Fund Campaign. Funds raised during the campaign help USA recruit the
best students, faculty, and staff; provide highest quality medical services to
our neighbors, and keep USA among the region’s strongest, most vibrant
employers.
Dr. Paul Helminger, professor emeritus of physics, served as the first ever
chair of the retiree campaign.
It’s All About the Students
Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative
Thank you to donors who have recently established scholarships:
Airbus American Engineering, Inc.
Katherine Alexis Atkins
Mr. Dow Bark with Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Blount, Jr.
BBVA Compass Bank-Birmingham
Donald and Holle Briskman with Conrad and Gigi Armbrecht
Dr. Matt Campbell and Ms. Amy Campbell
Evonik Industries
Mark D. Fillers
Dorothy Miller Green and Stephen Green with William and Anita Miller
The Hargrove Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Rick Harvey
Alane and Mark Hoffman
Mrs. Joyce Hunsader with Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hunsader
The John W. Laidlaw Foundation
Dr. G. David Johnson and Ms. Cecelia Murphy
Elliot B. Maisel
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc.
Dr. Carl C. Moore
Mostellar and Shreve, LLP
Order of AHEPA
Sean and Jessica Price
Charles N. Reynolds
Patricia Cobb Rodgers
Ms. Jeanne M. Sanderford
Jim and Carol Statter
Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow
Dr. Christopher and Mrs. Deborah Watts
Douglas L. Whitmore
Impacts to Date
885 Gifts
801 Donors
72 New Scholarships
129 Scholarships Strengthened
$3.2M for Scholarships
The Power of Pink
A bright pink excavator has been drawing attention from
passersby along the Gulf Coast for more than a year thanks
to Brad and Melissa Beard, owners of Beard Equipment
Company, and their daughters, Brooke Beard Dodson
and Kristen Beard DeLaney, founders of its “Rent Pink”
campaign. The Beard family are longtime supporters of
USA, who wanted a way to raise awareness and funds for
the fight against cancer.
An employee wellness program at Beard Equipment
Company revealed that a large number of employees,
family members, friends, and customers had been affected
by cancer and inspired a desire among its employees to
respond. The company’s clever “Rent Pink” campaign
encourages customers to hire an excavator that has been
painted pink—the arresting sight of pink earth-moving
equipment is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for
better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
Further, the company has generously given all proceeds
from a year’s rentals to the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute
and USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “While exploring
ways to contribute we realized that we have two
outstanding research facilities here in Mobile,” said Brooke
Beard Dodson of Beard Equipment. “USA’s Mitchell Cancer
Institute and USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital seemed
to be ideal organizations to help make a difference.”
Giving Basketball a Boost
A new renovation project for USA’s Men’s and
Women’s Basketball programs will update
facilities, and equip coaches with state-ofthe art tools to enhance team performance
and recruiting. Plans include updates to the
15 year-old locker room and lounge areas.
Improved entrances, flooring, ceilings,
lighting, and custom wooden lockers will
assure that Jaguar basketball’s home reflects
its elite status among Sun Belt Conference
competitors.
Among the highlights of the renovation
project are enhanced video and audio systems
for practice, game video preparation and
review, as well as scouting. These high-quality
systems will help elevate the competitiveness
of the program and make it more attractive to
top recruits.
Donors who support the renovation with
financial gifts of $10,000 or more to the Jaguar
Athletic Fund will be recognized by having
a room named in their honor. Recent room
namings include:
Andy and Carol Denny
Tom and Susan Garth
Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Jennings
Mr. Toby Lee Madison
Save the Date
Friday, September 12, 2014 | 2:00 p.m.
Mitchell Center
University of South Alabama
Presidential Inauguration
DR. TONY G. WALDROP
The Taking the Lead is a bi-annual publication featuring the impact of recent philanthropic gifts made to the University.
If you have questions or comments please contact the development office at 414-8116 or development@southalabama.edu.