More than $1.8M raised in support of MUSC’s mission, tripling previous Giving Tuesday record

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Dec. 22, 2021) – A record $1,863,144 was raised for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) on Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The previous record was set in December of 2020, when more than $569,000 was raised for MUSC.

Gifts ranged from $5 up to nearly $500,000.

More than a half-million dollars will go to scholarships for MUSC students. The MUSC Alumni Association donated $450,000, with a portion dedicated to enhancing diversity across MUSC’s entire student body. Donors inspired by the generosity of MUSC’s alumni gave an additional $80,000 to a variety of scholarships at MUSC’s six colleges. 

“Diversity and inclusion are central to our mission and pursuit of excellence,” said MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, “and increasing scholarship support is critical to reaching this goal. We are grateful to the Alumni Association, our alumni and the community for making scholarships a priority on Giving Tuesday.”   

In addition to scholarships, money raised on Giving Tuesday will advance research, enhance patient care and help to meet MUSC’s other greatest needs.

The single largest gift from an individual will help to provide emergency care and other medical services on Johns, Kiawah and Seabrook islands. Pam Harrington gave nearly $500,000 to support building the Sea Islands Medical Pavilion in that community.

Hank and Laurel Greer, who made the largest single gift on Giving Tuesday 2020, generously gave again to the MUSC Health Heart & Vascular Center. Their gift of $250,000 will support the Hank and Laurel Greer Endowed Chair in Electrophysiology. An endowed chair is a prestigious honor and a powerful tool for recruiting and retaining world-renowned leaders in patient care, education and research.

Gifts of all sizes have the power to change what’s possible at MUSC. Of the more than 300 gifts the MUSC Foundation received on Giving Tuesday, approximately 95% were less than $10,000, and 86% were less than $1,000.

Dozens shared why they gave, on the MUSC Foundation’s Giving Tuesday activity page.

Rodny Chisholm gave in memory of his nephew, Camden Scott Meyer. “Camden will always be in our hearts and prayers, and it’s the legacy of his name that helps provide support and services through the College of Health Professions.”

Heather Mallard, MUSC director of strategic transactions, was happy to contribute on Giving Tuesday. “I'm proud to work at MUSC Health and humbled to be able to support in a small way the work of our front-line heroes in mental health!”

Another donor gave to the Norris lab because of the research they are doing for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder that can take years to diagnose. “Thank you and please keep it up!” she wrote. “You help us feel seen and heard.”

“We are humbled by the generosity of this community,” said Kate Azizi, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “Your incredible support of MUSC’s mission will make a profound impact on countless lives. We can’t thank you enough.”

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About the MUSC Foundation

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Foundation was chartered in 1966 as a charitable educational foundation to support the education, research, patient care and other programs at the Medical University. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, contributions to which are tax-deductible.

Since its beginning, the MUSC Foundation has encouraged such worthwhile academic enterprises as endowed professorships; scholarships; the acquisition and development of campus facilities to serve student, teaching, research or clinical needs; and awards in honor of academic excellence. In addition, it has encouraged achievements in biomedical research.

The Foundation is governed by a 31-member board of directors. The president of the Medical University is an ex-officio, non-voting member of the board. Three members of the MUSC Board of Trustees also serve on the board. The remaining 27 at-large directors are not directly affiliated with the university. Five are alumni of MUSC. The foundation’s funds are invested and managed by professional money managers selected by the foundation’s Investment Committee. This committee uses a professional investment advisor to assist in evaluating its managers.