HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation is stopping its tornado relief and campus beautification campaigns for now. Instead the group wants you to consider helping out tornado survivors in Oklahoma.
“It is inappropriate for us to continue to publicly request funds for our tornado relief and restoration efforts at a time where there has been such a significant loss of life in Oklahoma,” Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the USM Foundation Bob Pierce said in a written statement. “We were impacted by the tornado on February 10, but we were blessed that no one in the Hattiesburg area died. The focus right now should be on those in Oklahoma. Out of respect to those who lost loved ones, homes and businesses, we are postponing the request for further contributions at this time.”
