Contact: Zack Plair

STARKVILLE, Miss.--A statewide non-profit organization that works to encourage citizenship, service and responsibility will hold a major event Aug. 12 at Mississippi State.

The 2015 President's Summit on Community Engagement will take place 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the university's Colvard Student Union.

Meggan Franks said MSU and Mississippi University for Women are collaborating with the Jackson-based Volunteer Mississippi's Engage Mississippi program to "help make a difference by connecting campus resources, community organizations, businesses, funders, civic groups and volunteers."

While the event is free, advanced registration is requested at www.presidentssummit.org, added Franks, assistant director of MSU's Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement, a part of the Division of Student Affairs.

The summit opens with welcoming remarks by MSU President Mark E. Keenum and Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, followed by brief presentations by various state non-profit and other groups. Lunch and a series of break-out sessions conclude the day. A complete agenda will be available at the above-listed website.

At lunch, Blake Wilson, Mississippi Economic Council president, will speak on the topic "Building a Business Model for a Charitable Economy," following remarks from MUW President Jim Borsig. Wilson also is moderating an afternoon panel discussion.

"Building on Mississippi State University's 138-year history of life-changing learning, innovation and service, we are pleased to partner with the Mississippi University for Women and Engage Mississippi to strengthen partnerships with community agencies in Mississippi," said Cade Smith, MSU interim associate dean of students and director for the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement. "We hope everyone leaves this event with a greater understanding of how mutually beneficial community-based collaboration drives the social, educational and economic progress for citizens across our state."

Established in 1994 as the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, Volunteer Mississippi operates in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, Mississippi Department of Education and Mississippi Center for Nonprofits, along with faith-based and community organizations statewide.

MSU, Mississippi's flagship research university, is online at www.msstate.edu, meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate, using hashtag #WeRingTrue.