Augusta University’s Augusta Gives brings more than $1.7 million in gifts

The Augusta community showed overwhelming support for Augusta University during the second annual Augusta Gives campaign on April 21.

The university received 681 gifts totaling $1,743,801.

This year’s top donor was community supporter Emily Baumann, who gave $1 million toward the endowment of the Emily S. Baumann Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy fund to provide more access to youth in need of mental health care for generations to come.

Since the fund was established in March 2016, it has garnered nearly $285,000 in donations from more than 50 donors contributing to the fund as of today. The funding has also provided approximately 3,500 hours of therapy sessions to date.

Below is a list of other notable gifts to this year’s campaign.

Dr. Ray and Mrs. Janice Whiting, A.L. Williams, Jr. Scholarship Endowment (Athletics) and Janice and Raymond Whiting Scholarship (Pamplin)

Riverside Refreshments (Les Perry), Riverside Refreshments Men’s Golf Scholarship Endowment

Mr. T.R. Reddy and Dr. Niranjini Reddy,TR Reddy Family Fund for COVID-19 Neurological Research

Regent Jim and Mrs. Karen Hull, TR Reddy Family Fund for COVID-19 Neurological Research

Kiwanis Club of Augusta, Children’s Hospital of Georgia

Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Elaine Rondeau, Renee Olubunmi Rondeau Memorial Scholarship Endowment (Pamplin)

Chad Cook, Men’s Basketball Fund

Mr. Dean and Mrs. Teena Newman, Men’s and Women’s Golf

Dr. Manny and Mrs. Catherine Ngoh, Augusta Endodontic Center Dental Hygiene Scholarship Endowment

Sara Haddow Liebel, Sara Haddow Liebel Physician Assistant Scholarship Endowment

Dr. Tanya Sudia, Dr. Tanya Sudia Scholarship Endowment (College of Nursing)

With this year’s theme “Give back to the future,” the day of giving was held virtually for donors to contribute to the unrestricted fund, which helps to address the university’s greatest priorities — often needs that arise as the result of unexpected circumstances, such as the pandemic. Donors were also able to choose from 16 other areas of need that included colleges, schools, health and students that highlighted 70+ individual initiatives.

“Our donors certainly responded to this call to action and we are very appreciative,” said AU Vice President for Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Deborah Vaughn. “These gifts allow us to make a lasting positive impact on future generations to come, and many thanks to our leadership for embracing and supporting this important virtual initiative, which we hope will continue to grow each year.”

Kelly Schulte, director of annual giving in Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, offered similar sentiments.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community as donors gave to whatever cause or area at AU that meant the most to them or where they felt they could make the most impact,” said Schulte. “Our institution has persevered through these challenging times, but we could not have done it without the generous contributions of the community.”

Learn more about Augusta Gives.