A new 'Day for Southern' record

Local fund drive for university tops $2.3 million

R.J. Pope, center, shows off a limited-edition blazer during a visit Tuesday from Georgia Southern University interim President Dr. Jean Bartels, right, and A Day For Southern Chairman Anthony Waters during the final day of the university's annual fundraiser .

W 091515 DAY FOR SOUTHERN 02 — R.J. Pope, center, shows off a limited-edition blazer during a visit Tuesday from Georgia Southern University interim President Dr. Jean Bartels, right, and A Day For Southern Chairman Anthony Waters during the final day of the university's annual fundraiser .

With the 42nd annual "A Day for Southern," people in Statesboro and Bulloch County, and on the campus itself, set a new record of giving to Georgia Southern University: $2,335,990. Those were the digits key campaigners were holding when they turned around at the 5:30 p.m. reveal. All day Tuesday, volunteers had called on repeat and expected donors, sometimes following up on earlier pledges.