Georgia Southern University’s 41st annual “A Day for Southern” fundraising campaign raised $2,221,424, breaking last year’s record of $2.1 million. This marks the second straight year the campaign has raised more than $2 million.

Statesboro and Bulloch County businesses along with Georgia Southern faculty, staff, students, retirees and alumni donated to the campaign as a way to show their support for the university. The gifts received support university programs not funded through state dollars, help students to achieve academic excellence and support outreach centers such as the Center for Wildlife Education, Georgia Southern Museum, Garden of the Coastal Plain and state-of-the-art facilities and programs that attract and support research and scholarships.

Barbara Christmas-Golden, former principal and CEO of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, served as the campaign’s community chair; Christopher Pugh, assistant director of the Multicultural Student Center, served as the staff co-chair; and Chris Caplinger, director of First-Year Experience, served as the faculty co-chair. More than 100 volunteers assisted with the campaign.

“A Day for Southern” began more than four decades ago and recorded $67,000 in its first year.