OXFORD — The Ole Miss Athletics Foundation announced $45.6 million in cash contributions, a new record, from donors in the fiscal year that ended June 30. The annual contributions break the previous high of $35.2 million in cash donations set the previous fiscal year.

Cash giving in the two years prior to that was $27.4 million in 2014 and $26 million in 2013, bringing the total cash contributed in the last four years to $134.2 million. The Ole Miss Athletics Foundation is comprised of members who make a donation to support Ole Miss Athletics.

Ole Miss Athletic Directior Ross Bjork said Ole Miss was grateful to be able to set a new standard in fundraising.

“The Ole Miss Family continues to grow, and the support allows us to continue giving Rebels the highest quality student-athlete experience,” he said.

The record-breaking year would not have been possible without several outstanding gifts. In November, Dr. Gerald Hollingsworth made a $25 million commitment to Ole Miss Athletics composed of $10 million in current year cash and the remaining $15 million deferred, including an $11 million funded trust as part of an estate plan.

This total commitment is the single largest gift ever received by the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation. The $10 million current year portion of Hollingsworth’s donation will be used to support the north end zone expansion of Vaught- Hemingway Stadium, where the playing field already bears his name.

Comprised of Ole Miss Athletics Foundation membership and priority seating donations, annual giving represented $22.2 million (48.7 percent) of the $45.6 million in cash gifts, an increase of $6.6 million from last year.

The Vaught Society received a major increase in cash donations for Ole Miss Athletics, up $10.2 million from last year for a total of $18.2 million this fiscal year.

The Vaught Society started with 29 original charter members in 2010 and currently has 388 members who make pledges of $25,000 or greater over the course of five years. Along with cash donations raised by the Vaught Society, $4.0 million was donated through Forward Together Capital Gift Agreements.

Senior Associate Athletic Director Keith Carter said he was amazed at the generosity of the Ole Miss family.

“We continue to ask our dedicated and passionate supporters each year to provide essential resources in our pursuit of excellence. This year, just like the ones before, they have answered the call,” Carter said.

Leading the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation to another record-breaking year, Keith Carter was named the 2016 National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) Fundraiser of the Year in the industry.