“Community” has been at the heart of Methodist University since before it opened its doors in 1960. It’s no surprise, then, that surrounding the excellence of Methodist University today is a team of community members who are devoted to helping promote the growth, progress, and general welfare of MU, Fayetteville/Cumberland County, and North Carolina.
“Community” has been at the heart of Methodist University since before it opened its doors in 1960. Today, it remains a core foundation for MU’s success in the region, state, and nation.
It’s no surprise, then, that surrounding the excellence of Methodist University today is a team of community members who are devoted to helping promote the growth, progress, and general welfare of MU, Fayetteville/Cumberland County, and North Carolina. With the same belief as the early leaders that MU is a necessary shining light in the region, the “Founders Council” promotes, provides resources, and raises financial support for the institution.
“The Founders Council at Methodist University serves as a vital connection between the Fayetteville community at large and the University,” said council member Mark Rice of the Callahan & Rice Insurance Group. “Council members work to support various programs that directly benefit MU students.”
Founders Council members come from all areas of the community, representing car dealerships, restaurants, banks, schools and school systems, retail outlets, health systems, and so many more. The nearly 30 council members this year are individuals who are willing to support and advance the mission of the University and, in particular, the students reaching new heights in the classroom, online, in clinicals, on the athletic fields/courts, and volunteering across our region.
Nearly every student at MU receives financial assistance (more than 97% in 2024-25). This helps ensure that students from all backgrounds and experiences can consider MU as their college of choice. With more than 80 areas of study, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community (and the Founders Council) know they are neighbors to a truly special school. Opportunity abounds.
“I have seen high-quality growth in educational opportunities as well as those programs that help develop well-rounded students,” Rice said. “We, as the Greater Fayetteville community, have the opportunity to support this institution which in turns makes our community a better place in which to live.”
While the focus on student success is unwavering, the Founders Council and community know that MU brings additional resources and funding to the area. Methodist University has played a vital role in shaping a stronger, more prosperous Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and North Carolina. In a recent Economic Impact Study done by Hanover Research, MU’s demand-side economic impact on the county was $88.5 million, with a $116-million impact on the state. In addition, MU has partnered with Cape Fear Valley Health to bring a new medical school to the area. With a goal of opening in 2026, pending accreditation, a Walden economic study reported the new medical school would generate more than 800 permanent jobs and regional spending would increase by nearly $125 million.
In addition to other efforts, the Founders Council hosts a Golf & Tennis Tournament event each year in the fall at the prestigious, private, Downback Golf Course and Clayton Tennis Center on the Methodist University campus. All proceeds benefit the MU Loyalty Fund for student scholarships and the PGA Golf Management and Professional Tennis Management programs. In the spring, the MU and local community again turn their concentration to student scholarships and programs as MU hosts Loyalty Day, a one-day, 24-hour opportunity for all to give to the causes they are passionate about. This year’s Loyalty Day theme is “Power in Giving, Pride in Legacy” and occurs on February 27.
“The Founders Council is responsible for securing financial resources, particularly for the Loyalty Fund, which supports student scholarships,” said council member Kristie Allen who is with Two Men and a Truck. “Council members play a key role in organizing and promoting MU Loyalty Day, a long-standing and impactful event dedicated to raising funds for scholarships and fostering community support for the University.”
For more information about the Founders Council and/or Loyalty Day, please contact the MU Office of Advancement at 910.630.7200 or [email protected].