ASU’s ‘Party with a Purpose’ serves up $30,600 for scholarships

ALBANY — Albany State University held a “Party with a Purpose” benefit on Saturday and the party served its purpose well. University alumni, friends and supporters raised $30,600 for needs-based scholarships.

The event was held at the Commerce Club in downtown Atlanta. It was held in collaboration with the Tom Joyner Foundation as the first of many university initiatives for the Tom Joyner School of the Month campaign.

ASU will be featured daily during the month of November. As the November School of the Month, the TJF will promote raising funds for the university and highlight its programs for the entire year.

“This is a proud day for ASU,” Albany State University President Art Dunning said to a group of nearly 160 alumni and supporters Saturday. “The future of the university depends on the people in this room.”

A live auction was held at the function, during which Greg Hylick, president of the ASU Foundation, made a successful bid of $4,000 on an exclusive Leroy Campbell original painting. Dunning and ASU first lady Karen Baynes-Dunning matched that, donating another $4,000 to support needs-based scholarships. A silent auction that featured original artwork by ASU students also was successful, with many of the pieces attracting bids of more than $100.

“Much like the band’s performance in Pasadena (California, at the 2016 Rose Parade), the student artwork was just another shining example of how talented ASU students are,” said Chanta Haywood, ASU vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation. “They need our support to nurture that talent so that they may graduate and inspire future generations.”

Celebrity co-hosts for the event were television actress JoMarie Payton, an Albany native, and the Atlanta attorney Glenda Hatchett, star of the former “Judge Hatchett” TV show. Both helped to reinforce the importance of giving by making donations.

After hearing about the upcoming groundbreaking for the ASU Fine Arts Center, Payton wrote a check for $500 toward fine arts scholarships.

“The young people that we support with our donations are the biggest investment we can make in our lives,” Payton said.

“We don’t want to look back and say we wish we would have done a little more,” said Hatchett, who served as the 2014 spring commencement speaker at Albany State. “We are claiming extraordinary things for ASU. We have work to do, and it’s on our collective shoulders to get it done.”

Haywood said it was nice to have alumni of their stature in attendance meant a lot.

“They know firsthand that the paths to their success were paved through the financial support and help of others,” she said. “To have them share their time and resources to support ASU shows that they too want to pay it forward.”

At the event, a $2,500 scholarship was presented to social work major Debra Rucks. The inaugural scholarship was part of the $25,000 endowment by Virginia Harris and family in honor of her husband, Keith Harris.

“Ms. Rucks will likely graduate on time and begin helping her community as a result of this generous donation,” Haywood said. “All donations matter, no matter the size. Collectively, small amounts add up to make large differences and that’s something to celebrate.”

Party with a Purpose was the first event in ASU’s “Week of Giving” initiative, which began Saturday and culminates Friday on Founder’s Day. The Week of Giving is an invitation to students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends to give back through donations and personal involvement. Donations are currently being accepted at giveto.asurams.edu.