CareSouth commits $2.875 million to Southern University’s capital campaign
CareSouth has committed $2.875 million to Southern University through the Imagine Southern Capital Campaign, providing significant support for scholarships, academic programs, athletics and other initiatives that enhance the student experience across the Southern University System. The announcement was made Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the Valdry Center for Philanthropy at Southern University.
“This generous commitment from CareSouth demonstrates what is possible when our community partners invest intentionally in the future of Southern University and our students,” said Orlando McMeans, interim president of the Southern University System. “These resources will impact multiple areas, create opportunities that strengthen the Southern experience for our stakeholders.”
CareSouth has partnered with Southern University since 2018, beginning with a co-branding project with Southern University Athletics. Its most recent large gift was a multiyear $1.4M contribution to benefit student scholarships and campus initiatives, including the statewide response to Covid-19 in 2020. This ultimately led to CareSouth establishing free health clinics for students and employees at Southern University’s Baton Rouge and Shreveport campuses.
The gift represents a broad commitment to Southern and its mission of access and opportunity, with funding designated for an endowed scholarship fund, Southern University Athletics, the Southern University “Human Jukebox” Marching Band, Southern University School of Nursing, Southern University System Foundation programming, Southern University Alumni Federation and Southern University at Shreveport.
“We have seen the value in the relationship with Southern,” said Matthew Valliere, chief executive officer for CareSouth. “When they call, we want to answer that call. I used to be a student here at Southern University, and scholarship opportunities are few and far between. So, for us (CareSouth) to be able to offer that and see the gratitude of the students… the impact that those scholarship dollars make warms my heart.”
Sandra Brown, dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health at Southern University and A&M College, echoed Valliere’s sentiments about the impact of investing in the university and its students.
“The power of giving is not found in the check,” said Brown, who is also the vice chancellor for health initiatives at Southern. “The power of giving is found in the lives that are changed because someone chose to give. It means one gift can become a scholarship, one scholarship can become a degree, one degree can become a career, one career can change a family, and one changed family can change a community. That is the ripple effect of generosity.”
The commitment advances the goals of the Imagine Southern Capital Campaign, Southern University’s comprehensive investment in the future of the Southern University System and the students, communities, and industries it serves. Grounded in a proud legacy of access, excellence, and opportunity, the campaign is designed to strengthen academic excellence, expand student success, and deepen the University’s impact across Louisiana and beyond.
For more about the campaign, go to https://foundation.sus.edu/imagine-southern/.