1908 Society created to recognize school's annual donors

Annual donors help ensure the success of the pharmacy school's faculty and students.

he 1908 Society has been created to help the University of Mississippi better recognize those who provide annual financial support to its School of Pharmacy.

"Essentially, the 1908 Society will allow those who truly understand the value of our pharmacy school to be recognized every year for their loyalty and support," said David D. Allen, the school's dean.

Allen and his wife, Loree, became the society's first members earlier this year.

"In order for Ole Miss to continue to produce excellent pharmacists to serve our state and region, annual private financial support at all levels is absolutely critical," Allen said. "Larger endowed gifts are extremely important to our continued success, but annual, or 'flow-through,' gifts are just as essential, and we want to recognize those who provide them."

Alumni and friends who give $1,000 or more during a school year (July 1-June 30) will be included in the 1908 Society for that year.

"Unlike the Galen Order, alumni and friends don't have to 'join' the 1908 Society," said Raina McClure, the pharmacy school's development officer.

Young alumni, who graduated from the school within the last 10 years (2002 or after), will be included in the society if they give $500 a year, and current students will be included if they give $100.

"In general, our younger alumni, and certainly our students, aren't quite as 'flush' as our older alumni, so we're giving them a sort of 'discount,'" McClure said.

All 1908 Society-level donors will be recognized by their names being listed in the fall issue of Pharmacy Matters, as well as an invitation to a special reception at some point in the year.

"Every gift of every size to the School of Pharmacy truly does make a significant difference for both our students and faculty," Allen said. "But these gifts also make a difference for alumni because they strengthen our programs and subsequently increase the value of the thousands of degrees we've already awarded."

Donors at the 1908 Society level may designate their gifts to meet any of the pharmacy school's needs, such as scholarships for students, professional development for faculty, technology upgrades, travel for faculty and students to professional conferences and meetings, and Science Library and skills lab resources.

"Designated gifts are important because they enable donors to give to areas that are especially meaningful to them," McClure said. "But those gifts that are given to the school in general, rather than designated for a particular use, allow Dean Allen to address needs as they arise. Gifts such as these are key to ensuring that the school's students and faculty have the resources they need to be successful."

Donors may make a single gift or several throughout a year to reach the 1908 Society level. Gifts to the society, which was named for the year in which the School of Pharmacy was founded, are tax-deductible.

To make a gift and help guarantee the continued excellence of the pharmacy school at Ole Miss, contact Raina McClure at 662-915-6967 (office), 662-832-7137 (cell) or raina@olemiss.edu; visit http://umfoundation.com/makeagift; or mail a check with the School of Pharmacy noted to the University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677.