Join us on June 1st, 2024 for the 40th Annual Phoenix Ball!

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 created by Mrs. Mary Clement, who at the time, served as First Lady of Cumberland University to President Bob Clement. Mary founded 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 an evening of dancing 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 things needed for the campus. In recent years, the funds have been allocated to support scholarships for needy and deserving students. The University has many students who receive financial aid from various sources. The Phoenix Ball helps provide additional funds to students who need support over and above what they can receive from their Pell Grant, the Lottery scholarship, loans, or private sources.

The Ball has been held annually since 1984, with the exception of 2020 when it was canceled due to COVID-19.

As we celebrate the 40th Annual Phoenix Ball, we honor and thank our friends of the University for their love and support of Cumberland and our students.