Lecture raises more than $8,500 for student assistance fund

Representatives of Northwest’s Pay It Forward Fund committee joined the Tatums on Thursday to accept a donation to the fund. Pictured left to right are Janie Thacker, Charles Mayfield, Anthony Christian, Dr. Lance Tatum, Jill Tatum, Selena Foreman, Dr. Shay Malone and Erika Lees. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

Northwest Missouri State University President Dr. Lance Tatum and first lady Jill Tatum on Thursday presented representatives of the University’s Pay It Forward Fund committee with a check for $8,565 from the proceeds of a recent lecture on the campus.

Gerry Brooks presented to a large crowd at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 22. (Photo by (Maria Nino-Elliott/Northwest Missouri State University)

The Pay It Forward Fund provides assistance to Northwest students who may be struggling financially while engaging them with resources available to be successful academically and socially. Funds are dispersed by the Office of Student Affairs to assist with the costs of items such as supplemental textbooks and course supplies, medical needs, tuition or emergency transportation.

The proceeds for the donation were garnered as a result of a Sept. 22 lecture at Northwest that featured Gerry Brooks, a longtime friend of the Tatums and a veteran educator whose humorous videos have gained him a vast social media audience.

“Jill and I talked about it, and we thought the biggest impact this would have would be on this fund, so that students who find themselves in a little bit of financial trouble can seek out some help,” President Tatum said after Thursday’s presentation.

For more information or to contribute to the Pay it Forward Fund, contact the Office of Student Affairs at saffair@nwmissouri.edu.