Meredith receives gift

Published on February 24, 2005

By Todd Cohen

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Just in time for the holidays, Meredith College in December received a bequest of nearly $1.1 million that will be used for scholarships.

The women’s school now has raised more than $24 million its capital campaign that began quietly in July 2001, kicked off publicly last year and aims to raise $33.5 million by June 30, 2007.

The bequest was from the Jesse C. Carson Jr. and Virginia Murchison Carson Revocable Trust, created by two long-time educators in Rowan County.

Of the total bequest, $200,000 will create a scholarship named for Minnie Murchison Gaston, a 1924 Meredith graduate who was the sister of Virginia Carson, a 1927 graduate.

The remainder will create a scholarship named for Virginia Murchison and will support undergraduates with financial need, with a preference for those from Rowan County.

The Carson bequest is one of the largest gifts to the campaign, which also has received an outright gift of $1 million and three other deferred gifts of $1 million or more each.

The largest gifts to school before the current campaign totaled $2.3 million, $1.9 million and $1.5 million.

"We are fortunate to have such caring and generous donors," says Connie Harris, vice president for institutional advancement.

• Email this page