April 4, 2025

Student leaders of Columbus State University’s Cougarthon organization recently raised $10,334.47, exceeding last year’s total efforts by more than $1,000, for the newly constructed Bill & Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital at Piedmont Columbus Regional. 
 
Supported Office of Student Life & Development in the university's Division of Student Affairs, student-led children's health awareness and fundraising events during the school year unifying students, employees and local community representatives culminated in the annual Cougarthon dance marathon on March 6—all committed to supporting local Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) efforts. 

As the only freestanding children’s hospital in the Columbus region, the Bill & Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital at Piedmont Columbus Regional has become the focus of Cougarthon’s fundraising efforts. Cougarthon’s student director Kayla Brown and its campus advisor Ketarra Billingsley presented event proceeds to Piedmont’s Jessie Brown, manager of its foundation’s major gifts program, on March 28.  
 
After serving on the Cougarthon committee for two years, Brown developed a deep passion for CMN. She connects her desire for teaching future generations as an elementary education major to helping children and their families in critical need.  
 
“Cougarthon means so much to me because I love creating events that engage students while also making a real impact,” she explained. “The funds we raise directly help families in need, which resonates deeply with me as a future educator. Seeing firsthand how families struggle with medical expenses, I fight hard to ensure no one is left without the resources they need.” 

Cougarthon student director Kayla Brown (left) and advisor Ketarra Billingsley (right) and present Piedmont's Jessie Brown with this year's Cougarthon donation.

 
Being from Columbus herself, Brown aspires for Cougarthon to grow exponentially next year by encouraging the greater Columbus community to become more involved and share these same passions.  
 
This year, Cougarthon brought together other student organizations such as the Panhellenic Greek sorority Phi Mu and the Future African American Healthcare Professionals Society (FAAHPS). According to Lexie Hinton, Phi Mu’s chairwoman of fundraising and also a Columbus native, her sorority's national philanthropy goal of supporting CMN is intertwined with Cougarthon’s. Phi Mu is a significant contributor to Columbus State’s Cougarthon efforts, raising over $6,800 of the university’s total. As a nursing major, Hinton aspires to work in pediatrics, directly caring for children in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). 
 
“I just have a huge passion for it,” Hinton said, “I want to work in [a CMN] NICU and, being able to change a kid’s life, you never know how much that can impact somebody.”  
 
Hinton, along with several of her Phi Mu sisters, share a strong passion and direct experience with CMN. 
 
“A lot of us have been through things with CMN that make us want to push even more for it. Phi Mu is a huge contributor to CMN. I’m able to do this with a group of girls who also have the same passion as I do,” she said. 
 
Visit the Cougarthon webpage for more information about Cougarthon and how to either get involved in or sponsor Columbus State’s future efforts.

---

Averi Morton of the Office of Strategic Communication + Marketing submitted this article for publication.

 Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu