Alcohol and drug education programs at the University of Mississippi will be expedited with a gift to the William Magee Center for Wellness Education Endowment.
“We believe there are a lot of students affected by substance abuse, whether that is personal use or suffering with family members’ or friends’ addictions,” said Chip Triplett of the Dr. and Mrs. Faser Triplett Foundation. “We must help them and their families obtain current information on the effects and consequences of alcohol and drug abuse.”
The Triplett Foundation awarded the center $750,000 to support the hiring of a health-education specialist, fund the planning of a national symposium at Ole Miss and cover expenses associated with the startup.
The foundation, named for the late Jackie and Faser Triplett of Jackson, is managed by their children: Chip Triplett and Diane Holloway of Ridgeland; Suzy Fuller of Greenwood, S.C.; Liz Walker of Jackson; and Lou Ann Woidtke of Madison.
The Magee Center, expected to open this year, is a tribute to William Magee, an alumnus of the university’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College who lost his life to an overdose in 2013.
“We knew the story of William Magee, and it was especially moving to hear the story from his parents, Kent and David Magee,” Triplett said. “It is remarkable that while dealing with such sorrow, they are trying to prevent this tragic loss from happening to another member of the Ole Miss family.
Triplett said he and his siblings believe the Magee Center is uniquely positioned to provide this service. “We know the Magee Center will reach young students at Ole Miss and guide them in a positive direction so they’ll become the best young adults they can be.”
