Published on October 7, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. by Kathryn Slaughter  
Parents Association on Field

During Samford University’s Family Weekend 2025, the Samford Parents Association hosted its annual meeting and breakfast on Saturday morning in Seibert Gym. The gathering brought together parents, university leaders and members of the Division of Student Affairs to celebrate community and generosity while determining how to allocate resources through the Good Measure Fund.

Each year, the Parents Association reviews and votes on proposed projects from the Division of Student Affairs. The Good Measure Fund supports initiatives that enhance student life, address emerging needs and reflect Samford’s mission and values.

This year, 18 projects were proposed, representing $141,300 in funding needs. Families received project summaries in advance, and over the course of the weekend, parents gave generously, contributing $55,952 in gifts. At Saturday’s meeting, the Parents Association voted to fund two projects totaling $25,000, bringing the total amount of supported initiatives to $80,952, with $60,348 in unmet needs remaining.

Many of the projects funded this year include initiatives such as a curriculum-based life skills program, Bibles for students on campus, copies of Make the Most of It: A Guide to Loving Your College Years for Samford CARES to distribute to freshmen, and 100 Swipe Out Hunger cards for students experiencing food insecurity. The funding will also help underwrite the cost for Freshman Retreat student leaders, provide scholarships for 30 students to attend the fall break Give-Back Service Retreat and support scholarships for two students to participate in the Office of Parent and Family Engagement’s mission trip to Ecuador. Parents also voted to fund a campus-wide Christian conference, sponsored by the Office of Spiritual Life in conjunction with Parent and Family Engagement, which received the highest number of votes and will offer students a meaningful opportunity for worship, reflection and community-building. These initiatives, among several others, reflect Samford’s ongoing commitment to cultivating community, service and spiritual growth.

“Family Weekend is always a reminder of how special the Samford community truly is,” said Julie Boyd, director of Parent and Family Engagement. “The generosity we see through the Good Measure Fund each year is more than financial, it’s an investment in the lives and futures of our students.”

During halftime of the Samford vs. Furman football game, Parents Association co-chairs Eric and Sharla Stafford presented a ceremonial check to Samford President Beck A. Taylor and Phil Kimrey, vice president for Student Affairs. The presentation celebrated the generosity of Samford families and the impact their support will have on the student experience.

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second-highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.