Just under two weeks after Mississippi State’s Athletics Department received a multi-million dollar gift from an MLB agent and his spouse, another large sum of money is announced to be making its way to Starkville.
Bulldog Athletics Director Zac Selmon announced that a family of longtime program supporters and Starkville residents, who chose to remain anonymous, are gifting $1.5 million to the State Excellence Fund.
“We are deeply grateful to this generous family for their direct support of Mississippi State Athletics,” Selmon said.
“This gift will create a lasting impact on our sports programs and provide vital resources for our student-athletes. This family exemplifies a relentless work ethic and their passion for Mississippi State is insurmountable. Their belief in our vision and dedication to our success is truly inspiring, and we are thankful for their partnership in our pursuit to build the brightest future possible for Bulldog Athletics.”
The State Excellence Fund serves as the athletics department’s liaison for name, image, and likeness monies to be utilized to elevate sports at the university by enhancing student-athlete resources and providing benefits in the increasingly competitive landscape of college athletics.
RELATED: Mississippi State to upgrade lighting system at Davis Wade Stadium
It will also serve to aid Mississippi State in the expected event that the House v. NCAA settlement is approved, causing the university to have to shell out a total of roughly $21 million to its student-athletes.
“As a family with strong connections to Mississippi State, we’ve seen firsthand the impact Bulldog Athletics has on its athletes, students, and the community,” the family said.
“This gift to the State Excellence Fund reflects our full support for the vision for our future. In a rapidly evolving landscape of college sports, we want to help Mississippi State compete on a national level consistently. Supporting the department’s initiatives is essential for the continued success of our student-athletes and the future growth of the program.”
The latest gift follows an $8 million pledge in September, $3 million in November, and $1.75 million in December — all from anonymous givers.
