The 40th Annual Phoenix Ball - June 1st, 2024

One of the premier charity events in Tennessee, the Phoenix Ball is a black tie gala benefiting Cumberland University, which was founded in 1842. Attended by hundreds of prominent middle Tennesseans, the Ball has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for scholarships for students attending Cumberland.

The first Phoenix Ball was held in 1984 and was created by Mrs. Mary Clement, who, at the time, served as First Lady of Cumberland University to President Bob Clement. Mary created the Phoenix Ball to serve as the University's signature event. She and a dedicated group of volunteers felt that it would be a way to raise the visibility of Cumberland in the greater Nashville area, raise funds for Cumberland's deserving students, and, lastly, provide a memorable evening of dancing, dining and entertainment for the attendees.

During the early years of the Ball, funds raised were used for various projects around campus, including the purchase of library books, carpeting for Memorial Hall, and other priority projects needed for the campus. In recent years, the funds have been allocated to support scholarships for deserving students.