[Chronicle]

Nov. 30, 2001
Vol. 21 No. 6

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    ‘Giving to Help’ make a difference

    By Elizabeth Austin
    News Office

    Each year, the University community reaches out from the boundaries of academia into the surrounding world in an effort to help those in need.

    Participants in the annual “Giving to Help” campaign take payroll deductions or give direct cash contributions to the United Way and other charities in an organized, University-wide effort to raise money for human care and community-service agencies.

    Last year, the combined efforts of the University community amounted to a contribution of more than $320,000. This year, President Randel hopes that sum can be increased to $325,000.

    The campaign to reach that goal is already underway. “Giving to Help” information packets, including a letter from Randel asking employees to contribute to the campaign and pledge cards, have been sent out to all University employees.

    Individual donations are highly personalized, even though they are part of a community effort. Traditionally, participants have chosen to subscribe to one of three standard programs of monthly payroll deduction to be contributed to the United Way, but they also may choose to direct this donation to any United States charity. They also can give one single donation instead of subscribing to the monthly program.

    The donations of participants who choose to give to the United Way will be added to the Community Fund, which supports countless service organizations including branches of the YMCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Salvation Army, along with other health care, family and youth support, and self-sufficiency and community building groups.

    Donations to the “Giving to Help” campaign serve as an automatic entry in the campaign’s annual raffle. Prizes include such University-appropriate items as a paid day off and free parking for a year, and gift certificates donated by neighborhood businesses. The Grand Prize will be $800 of free travel on United Airlines.

    Even without the incentive of prizes, many at the University would support the campaign, as they have in past years.

    Alice Chandler, Administrative Assistant and Office Manager in the Office of the President said, “When I send in my check, I have a wonderful feeling that in some way I have made a difference.”