Fiscal Year 2022 was the best fundraising year in the history of the UT College of Social Work. Gifts and grants from generous alumni, friends and private foundations brought the total to a record-breaking $5.3 million.

Major new gifts from Phillip and Janet Lawson benefit the endowed graduate fellowship they created in 2017. The Lawson Endowed Graduate Fellowship will provide two full tuition scholarships for the current academic year.

The Lawsons also established the new Social Work Excellence Endowment, providing the Dean with much-needed unrestricted funds. An additional gift went to the College Fund, which supports students, faculty and programs.  “It’s wonderful to see the College’s impact expand,” Phil Lawson said. “Graduates serve communities across Tennessee and beyond. We’re glad to be part of this important work.”

Alumna Hilary Hamlin, chair of the College’s Board of Visitors, made a planned gift to create an endowed graduate fellowship for MSSW students at both campuses and online. “An MSSW just opens up so many doors,” Hamlin said. “You can do a huge range of things. I hope that more people can take advantage of that opportunity.”

Private foundation grants include major new funding from Maddie’s Fund to provide support for Dr. Michael Blackwell’s research. Data currently being collected will help explain how lack of access to veterinary care may affect family health and well-being. The project also allows researchers to further explore how sociocultural barriers impact pet owners’ ability to access veterinary care.

Other gifts include a new graduate fellowship for MSSW students interested in treatment of substance abuse disorders and a bequest to provide additional resources to the All Creatures Great and Small Endowed Professorship in veterinary social work.