The BC Tigers Exceeded their 2023 Campaign Goal of $1.5 million with a total of $1,600,877
Columbia, SC, July 19, 2023 –Benedict alumni and friends from across the country once again pushed the Annual Alumni Fund Campaign past its record-setting $1.5 million goal by $100,877. This year’s success is credited to a dedicated Campaign Leadership team led by the College’s Assistant Vice President, Ada Brown Belton along with a strong volunteer leadership team from around the country. Leading the campaign charge was Chairwoman Dr. Elsie Hamler, co-chair Marlene McClerklin and 10 additional dedicated committee members. The team also included Mrs. Cedelle Gates, president of The Benedict College National Alumni Association, and Alumni Club Presidents who are the true MVPs.
“Our Alumni are so passionate about the mission of Benedict College,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President, and CEO of Benedict College. ‘I am immensely grateful for their dedication and generosity to help give our students a true BEST of BC experience. I once again applaud our record-shattering alumni for their transformative investment!”
Annual alumni giving is a good indication of how graduates value their alma mater. Large numbers of donations and participation rates suggest that alumni are engaged with the school. This achievement also signifies that its alumni are supportive of the institution, its current students, and the direction the college is going.
The College’s alumni club presidents once again did a magnificent job. Of the 66 alumni clubs reporting, of which 38 clubs or 58 percent met their goal this year. Bravo to club presidents, club members, reunion classes and especially to the following top ten clubs who contributed nearly 50 percent of the campaign:
| Columbia #2(SC) | $251,347.00 |
| Atlanta (GA) | $104,032.00 |
| Washington #46 (DC) | $91,792.00 |
| Columbia #1 (SC) | $71,754.00 |
| Progressive Club (NY) | $65,371.00 |
| Augusta (GA) | $55,750.00 |
| South Florida Alumni Club (Fl) | $40,550.00 |
| North Jersey | $33,636.05 |
| Edisto (SC) | $32,813.00 |
| TigerWest (SC) | $31,574.00 |
Benedict College has 66 alumni clubs around the nation, but the Columbia Alumni Club #2, home base for thousands of alums, has the distinction of contributing the largest amount ($251, 347) to this year’s campaign.
“Over the past nine years, alumni have raised over $13,175,910 in support of Benedict College. Alumni have provided over $7,221,868 for the Alumni Campaign since the arrival of Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis,” noted Chairwoman Dr. Elsie King Hamler.
Alumni of Benedict College continue to demonstrate their profound love of their alma mater through unwavering financial support which has propelled contributions into a nine-year streak of exceeding $1 million. Their selflessness is a testament of the stellar leadership and dedicated work of the Benedict College National Alumni Association, Annual Fund Committee, the alumni club presidents, as well as alumni at large. The Office of Alumni Relations and Advancement Services led by Ada Brown Belton undergirds the fundraising effort.
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About Benedict College
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution, offering 26 competitive baccalaureate degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from all 46 counties in South Carolina, 30 states across America, and 26 countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty and 80 percent of its courses are taught by full-time faculty.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. For example, Benedict College was ranked as one of the top baccalaureate colleges in the nation by Washington Monthly magazine for creating social mobility and producing cutting-edge scholarship and research. In 2019, Benedict College received the 2019 ACE/ Fidelity Investments Awards for Institutional Transformation and was named the HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest. Benedict College was also listed among the top half of ranked HBCUs in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges by US News and World Report.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: The School of Education, Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Studio Art Program, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
