Admissions Academic Programs Current Students Faculty & Staff Alumni & Friends Athletics Student Life
Advancement
A History of Giving
Thank you for considering a gift to Florida Southern College! Since President Ludd Spivey saved Southern College from closing its doors in 1933 by leading a 10-day campaign to raise funds from friends of the college in Lakeland and Plant City, a tradition of philanthropy has continued to grow, supporting and strengthening the school now known as Florida Southern College. President Spivey’s perseverance and leadership inspired everyone in the community--from student organizations who fought to keep their school open by contributing $3,700 to Lakeland residents and Methodists from all over Florida who wore buttons denoting their membership in Dr. Spivey’s "Believers Club," earned by buying votes of confidence in the college’s future for $1.

President Spivey’s legacy lives on today. The Spivey Society was created in 2002, to honor this legacy of giving.  In his term as president, Dr. Tom Reuschling successfully led the much-needed $50 million comprehensive campaign which was completed December 1999 with a total of $59,577,396 raised. Each year the senior class gift campaign is funded entirely through student contributions and pledges. With the "Advancing the Flame" scholarship program, the connection between Florida Southern College and the Florida United Methodist Conference is stronger than ever. An annual community campaign involves local businesses and friends in the college’s mission. The alumni giving percentage continues to rise each year, demonstrating just how many "satisfied customers" graduate from Florida Southern with a valuable degree in hand and a variety of open doors awaiting them.

There are many believers in Florida Southern College today, and you can join them in supporting FSC. There are almost as many ways to give as there are reasons to give. Connect to our Ways to Give page for information on providing a gift to FSC.