MSU announces over $9M in private donations

Private donations to Missouri State University totaling more than $9 million were announced this week by the higher education institution.

Donations intended to fund scholarships, create a new professorship, boost the athletic programs and renovate Greenwood Laboratory School were among private gifts noted in a Feb. 13 news release.

“We continue to be thankful for alumni and friends who care about Missouri State and higher education,” said Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Missouri State University Foundation, in the release. “Private gifts are critical to our university’s success. We’re especially grateful to those donors who have made provisions in their estate planning for future gifts, so their impact on education will continue to live on for generations to come.” 

The gifts include those made by alumni, community members and former board members, totaling $9,136,000. The exact amount of each gift was not mentioned in the release.

The following donors contributed to the foundation:
• Jerry and Paula Daugherty, Greenwood parents of current students. The gift will fund the Greenwood interior renewal project.
• The Pinegar family, multigenerational family history of Greenwood alumni. The Pinegar gift also will fund the Greenwood interior renewal project. 
• Estate of Peggy D. Miller, a longtime supporter and Bears Basketball fan. The estate gift will provide provision to endow scholarships for the Bears and Lady Bears basketball programs and the Missouri State bands.  
• Bernie and Pam Burrier, longtime Missouri State athletics supporter and emeritus staff. The Burrier gift establishes the Bernie and Pam Burrier Lady Bears Basketball Success Fund.
• Billy Hixon, a 1969 graduate and foundation Board of Trustees member, and Carolin Hixon, a 1985 graduate. An estate gift additional amount will create the Billy E. and Carolin J. Hixon Endowed Fund for Missouri State and the foundation.
• Estate of Jerry Burns, who graduated in 1959. This gift created the Jerry F. and Phyllis I. Burns Professorship, which is in the College of Education.
• John Foster, foundation Board of Trustees member. The estate gift will establish the John D. Foster Scholarship, a nondepartmental scholarship with first preference for College of Business students.
• Dr. Susan Sims-Giddens, Missouri State emeritus faculty member and foundation Board of Trustees member. An estate gift for an additional amount is for the Susan Sims-Giddens and Edwin Giddens Scholarship and the Frankie and S.D. Sims Memorial Scholarship; both are nursing scholarships on the MSU-West Plains campus.
• J.D. Pilkenton, entrepreneur. The Pilkenton gift will establish the J.D., Scott and Ben Pilkenton Scholarship Fund, a new endowed scholarship for the College of Business.

Additionally, six-figure gifts went toward the Bears WIN Program, athletic programs, the Springfield Way Internship Program and endowed scholarships for the Springfield and West Plains campuses, according to the release. There also was a software gift for the department of digital fashion and merchandising and a gift for the MSU Care Clinic and Bear Pantry.