United Way Campaign
Dee Montgomery, MURA Representative, MU United Way Committee
The 2025 MU Heart of Missouri United Way (HMUW) campaign exceeded its goal of $500,000 in donations. Led by MU Committee Co-Chairs Lynda Kraxberger, associate dean for undergraduate studies in the School of Journalism, and Jeni Hart, dean of the Graduate School, a total of $554,931 had been donated as of February 12, 2026. MU retirees contributed an amazing $296,506, or 53.4%, of that total. These totals are even more impressive because the 2025 HMUW campaign ended two to three months earlier than in previous years.
Retirees have played an increasing role in MU’s success since 2017 (see chart): Retirees’ contributions have more than tripled, from $90,988 to $296,506, as has our percentage of the MU donation, from 17.7% to 53.4%. In 2017–2019, the retiree portion of the MU total was in the high teens. From 2020–2023, the retiree total rose to about 33%. In 2024, the percentage increased to 43.1%, and in 2025, retirees donated an impressive 53.4%.
Plans are underway for making the 2026 campaign even more successful as the HMUW celebrates its 80th anniversary. The co-chairs for the 2026 MU campaign are Chad Higgins, vice chancellor for Extension and engagement, and Athletic Director Laird Veatch.
A recent article by the Charles William Whittaker, Sr. Foundation (2026), discusses the benefits of philanthropy often experienced by those who give. Giving to others can shift the giver’s focus from their own personal worries to gaining a bigger perspective on their lives while also providing the giver with a greater sense of purpose. For many givers, giving adds a deeper meaning to their lives. Moreover, sustained giving can lead to long-term improvements in society, a “ripple effect of generosity.” These benefits have been enhanced for me in the context of our current challenging times, giving me a sense of hope that I can actually do something to make our community a better place .
It has been a privilege to play a role in MURA and MU’s increasingly successful HMUW campaigns which do so much to improve the lives of others in our community. I want to express my profound gratitude to all retirees who gave so generously to the 2025 campaign. And I look forward to working with the MU committee to continue the upward trajectories of our donations to the 2026 80th year celebration campaign.
