Mizzou's Tiger Scholarship Fund Launches #ShowMe1839 Campaign
1/16/2019 9:30:00 AM | General
The campaign’s goal is to increase the financial resources needed to provide Mizzou student-athletes
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With a goal of increasing its Tiger Scholarship Fund membership to 18,039 in a nod to the year the University opened its doors, Mizzou's Department of Athletics has launched its 1839 campaign to reach that milestone. If it achieves that mark, the TSF membership would more than double in size, from its current 7,000 members, and would find itself ranked among the top three athletic fundraising organizations in the Southeastern Conference.
"We are tremendously grateful for the generosity of more than 7,000 Tiger Scholarship Fund members who annually support our student-athletes and their quest for academic and athletic excellence," said Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. "However, in order for us to continue providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes and the necessary resources for Mizzou to compete for SEC championships, we must cultivate new TSF members, and this campaign affords us the opportunity to do so.
"Mizzou Athletics is charging into 2019 with tremendous momentum, as our student-athletes are achieving at school-record levels academically and athletically, and in order for that success to continue, we must continue to grow our resources," he added. "Two of the fastest ways we can close that financial gap with our SEC peers is through TSF contributions and football season ticket sales, and I believe that Missourians will come alongside us to help grow TSF and fill Memorial Stadium this fall."
The inspiration behind the 18,039 campaign is a spin on the year the University of Missouri was founded in 1839. The campaign's goal is to increase the financial resources needed to provide Mizzou student-athletes with the opportunities to succeed in the classroom, in their sport, and throughout the community. The department continues to raise its graduation success rate (GSR) to record levels, and Mizzou's student-athletes performed more than 4,400 hours of community service during the last academic year. In competition, Mizzou has registered 33rd-place finishes in the annual Learfield Directors' Cup standings the past two years, its highest finishes ever in the all-sports sweepstakes.
However, the cost of maintaining that success continues to climb through increases in tuition, fees and cost of attendance. In the most-recent fiscal year, Mizzou Athletics, through TSF's efforts, paid back more than $11 million to cover the scholarship costs associated with running a broad-based, 20-sport intercollegiate athletics program in the nation's toughest conference. All of those dollars are privately raised.
Thus, department officials have launched the 18,039 campaign to encourage current members to maintain support or increase their financial support and to invite more fans, alumni and friends to help invest in the lives of Mizzou's 550 student-athletes.
"Tiger Scholarship Fund members are the backbone of our athletic department," said Executive Associate Athletics Director/Tiger Scholarship Fund Ashley Moore. "Growing our membership is critical for the long-term success of Mizzou Athletics, and as the Show Me state's flagship institution, we believe that we have the ability and capacity to reach our ambitious membership goal. It is our sincere desire to have at least one TSF donor in each of Missouri's 114 counties as the campaign unfolds.
"Growing our membership will allow us to continue enhancing academic resources for our student-athletes and building new facilities that not only attract outstanding student-athletes, but allow us to provide an outstanding fan experience," she added."
Currently, only 5% of Missouri alumni households contribute to the Tiger Scholarship Fund, a number that places Mizzou 13th among the 14-program Southeastern Conference. In contrast, Arkansas, whom the Tigers meet annually on the gridiron in the Shelter Insurance Battle Line Rivalry, has 16,000 annual donors.
In addition to retaining current TSF members, TSF staff plan on soliciting new members through a future mass mailing and emailing a link to a newly created and user friendly web site created especially for the 1839 campaign. The web site includes a video that features Sterk and the importance of the 18,039 campaign. TSF social media platforms will also be utilized to thank all members and continue educating Tiger fans on how to invest in the future of Mizzou Athletics.
For more information, please contact the Tiger Scholarship Fund office at (573) 882-0704, or email TSF at tsf@missouri.edu.
