M CLUB ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
The M Club mission statement is, "ATHLETES HELPING ATHLETES." The Scholarship Endowment is one way the Club is helping both current and future Marshall athletes.
A goal of the M Club is to hold the largest athletic scholarship endowment with the Big Green. Who else but we who were able to attend Marshall University and enjoy the benefits from all that ensued should hold that distinction? The M Club has recently fulfilled a $150,000 commitment to the Big Green and has increased it to $250,000. We are confident that we can meet that commitment and increase it again in the next year or so. Funding for the M Club Endowment comes from direct contributions by members and from funds derived from proceeds of two golf tournaments the Club sponsors each year. All contributions received, whether they have been $30 donations, green fees at one of the golf tournaments or larger contributions, have enabled the Club to meet past endowment commitments and make more ambitious ones for the future.
To encourage contributions and recognize contributors, we have recently erected a large plaque that will carry all of the names of persons making at least $1000, $5000, $10,000 or greater contributions to the M Club Endowment. That plaque is located in the second floor hallway of the Henderson Center adjacent to the enlarged pictures of Hall of Fame Members. For anyone who would like to make a pledge and pay incrementally, the M Club will accept partial contributions for as long as five years and place the contributor's name on the plaque when the pledge has been met.
Why do we consider the Endowment such an important aspect of the M Club? In order to provide scholarships, universities establish foundations (at Marshall, it is the Big Green) that seek to collect a base of funds that will be large enough that only the interest earned each year will finance athletic scholarships. At Marshall, we have not reached that level. Because of that, state and university funds, that could and should be used for other purposes in the athletic department, must be used to make up the difference. The scholarships may be funded, but other needs get short-changed. For Marshall athletics to consistently be competitive, the goal of scholarship self-sufficiency is very important.
Active and inactive M Club members, as well as anyone else who would like to support the Endowment, should send their contributions to the M Club Office. Should you have questions about the endowment, please contact us. (addresses and numbers are listed on this web site).
