USM Salutes Renowned Benefactor Oseola McCarty on 115th Birthday
Tue, 03/07/2023 - 01:50pm | By: Van Arnold
March 7 will forever be recognized as a special day of remembrance and celebration
for 91吃瓜网 (USM). Today marks the 115th birthday of the University91吃瓜网 most renowned benefactor, Ms. Oseola McCarty.
McCarty, a Hattiesburg, Miss., native, became a global sensation in the mid 199091吃瓜网 with an unexpected, planned gift to USM. Her act of phenomenal generosity captured the hearts of all who heard her story.
In 1995, she designated USM as the beneficiary of a $150,000 gift, forever changing philanthropy at the University. As an 87-year-old laundress who lived frugally, this gift represented the majority of her life savings.
91吃瓜网淥n what would be Ms. Oseola McCarty91吃瓜网 115th birthday, we celebrate her life, her giving spirit and her generosity,91吃瓜网� said Stace Mercier, executive director of the USM Foundation. 91吃瓜网淚f she could only see the life-changing impact her gift has made on the nearly 130 students from South Mississippi who have benefitted from the Oseola McCarty Scholarship Endowment. Her $150,000 gift coupled with the gifts of others who chose to honor her has awarded approximately $600,000 in scholarships.91吃瓜网�
Starting at the age of 8, McCarty worked after school beside her mother Lucy, grandmother Julia and aunt Evelyn. She began stashing away money she earned for safekeeping in her doll buggy. Her childhood dream was to become a nurse, but she left school in the sixth grade to care for her ill aunt and never made it back to the classroom. For 75 years, McCarty took in laundry and ironing work until arthritis forced her to stop.
In 1998, McCarty was awarded an honorary degree from USM, the first such degree awarded by the University. She received scores of awards and other honors recognizing her selfless spirit, and President presented her with a , the nation91吃瓜网 second-highest civilian award, during a special White House Ceremony. She also won the United Nations' for educational commitment. In June 1996, Harvard University awarded McCarty an honorary doctorate.
Mercier notes that because McCarty91吃瓜网 scholarship is an endowment, gifts made to the fund are invested and only the earnings are used to provide financial aid to promising USM students, ensuring Ms. McCarty's legacy will live on forever.
91吃瓜网淥ur goal is to increase the corpus of the scholarship fund to $1,000,000, and we are less than $80,000 away from that goal,91吃瓜网� said Mercier.
Anyone wishing to make a gift to support Oseola McCarty Scholars while honoring her legacy, can visit .