Sixteen departments at Western Carolina University are benefiting from more than $10,163 in contributions made to the university during 2004 by a Jackson County real estate company.

Jack and Gail Debnam and Todd Baucom, owners and agents of Western Carolina Properties, developed an innovative method of giving to the university and have pledged to contribute a percentage of their proceeds from the sale of property involving a Western faculty or staff member to the department where that employee works.

In the past year, Western Carolina Properties has made gifts to the offices of advancement, athletics, auxiliary services, biology, business, chemistry, criminal justice, distance and continuing education, human services, Hunter Library, industrial technology, international student scholarships, middle school education, music, physics and the Ramsey Regional Activity Center. The amount of the contribution depends on the price of the home or property, and gifts to date have ranged from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,500.

“The university community has been good to us over the years,” said Jack Debnam. “A lot of folks who work at Western have bought or sold property through our company, and we want to show our appreciation for their business and loyalty by giving something back to the university.”

Gail Debnam earned her master’s degree in education from Western in 1990, and is a former employee of the university, and Baucom earned his bachelor’s degree from Western in 1994.

“All of us at Western are grateful that Western Carolina Properties has chosen to support the university financially as an expression of appreciation for the business the company receives from the faculty and staff,” said Jim Miller, associate vice chancellor for development. “With record enrollment of nearly 8,400 students, we anticipate an expansion in the number of faculty and staff positions at the university, and this creates a business opportunity for local real estate agents and, in fact, all local businesses.”