United Way campaign kicks off at The BobMore than $25,000 has already been raised for UD’s 2001 United Way campaign, Vice President for Administration Maxine Colm announced Oct. 22 at a special meeting for campus solicitors that officially kicked off the campaign, which extends through Nov. 16.
Colm said that the Pacesetters Campaign, held Sept. 17-Oct. 12, in which senior UD administrators and employees make early contributions and set the pace for the rest of the campus, raised $23,386. The retiree campaign, in progress through Oct. 26, has raised $2,220 to date. The goal for this year’s campus campaign is $190,000. The state goal this year is $29.2 million. UD President David P. Roselle said that concern for community and the need to take action were tangibly demonstrated in the aftermath of the tragedies of Sept. 11, both nationally and on the UD campus.
“Our campus community came together like a family to try to make sense of what happened and, importantly, to begin working… working to assist victims and their families and working for the future.” Noting that the sense of community is very strong at UD, he added, “Our community has long been a benefactor to and a beneficiary of the many agencies supported by the United Way of Delaware.” With so much attention given to the charities serving the victims and families of the Sept. 11 tragedies, he said it is important also to remember and support the important work done by the many local United Way agencies. Chuck Anderson, president and chief professional officer of the United Way of Delaware, this year’s United Way campaign will be a challenging one.
According to a recent study of all United Way offices in the country, Delaware ranked as the third lowest in overhead, which means that a higher percentage of contributions go directly to the agencies. “You can be very proud of this organization,” Anderson said. The needs in Delaware are great now, he said, noting that in the First State, 10 percent of the elderly live in poverty; there were 6,000 reported cases of child abuse last year and 980 children are now in foster homes. Organizations funded by United Way are out there to help, he said. “I’m very confident in this campaign,” Anderson said. “The University of Delaware always comes through for the United Way.” Complete information about UD’s United Way campaign is available at [www.udel.edu/unitedway].  |
