One of the fall’s most anticipated contests between the University of Mississippi and the University of Georgia isn’t happening in a football stadium, and everyone can participate.
To celebrate the Oct. 18 football matchup between the Rebels and the Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia, fundraisers at both universities will launch Beat Week, a six-day challenge to see which school can score the most gifts between midnight on Monday, Oct. 13, and 11:59 p.m. CST on game day, Oct. 18.
Every gift of $5 or more to any cause on campus counts on the giving scoreboard and can help the Rebels beat the Bulldogs off the field.
“We’re confident that Coach Kiffin and our players will win the ball game next Saturday,” said Maura Langhart, the senior director of Annual Giving at the University of Mississippi who is spearheading the Beat Week campaign. “But to win Beat Week, we need every member of our Ole Miss family to come together and give back to the university.
“We may be smaller than UGA, but our fans, alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff make up a philanthropic powerhouse.”
Langhart said Rebel fans should set a calendar reminder for Monday, Oct. 13, when they can log in to beat-week.com and click on the Ole Miss logo to make their first gift and check the leaderboard. Then, spread the word about Beat Week: Post on social media and send reminder messages to friends and family.
“Every gift is important, so we encourage everyone in Rebel Nation to make multiple gifts during Beat Week,” Langhart said. “You may make gifts to anything you love about Ole Miss: Your major, a scholarship, essential student services, faculty support, the band and more.”
In a special Beat Week competition, UM’s Pride of the South Marching Band will go head-to-head against UGA’s band to see who can raise the most gifts for band-member scholarships.
“It’s not necessary to have been in the band to support the Pride of the South in this competition. Just make a gift and help them march to victory,” Langhart said.
Last year, donors helped Ole Miss win its Beat Week competition against Louisiana State University. UGA won its Beat Week competition against the University of Alabama.
“Georgia is a formidable opponent, on and off the field,” said UM Vice Chancellor for Development Charlotte Parks. “The best part of Beat Week, however, is that everyone wins. At the end of the week, we will have cultivated more support for our university and our students. Supporting students is the ultimate victory for Ole Miss.”
To join the Ole Miss team for Beat Week, contact Maura Langhart at mmwakefi@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2760.
By Angela Atkins/UM Development