2:49 p.m., Nov. 23, 2009----The University of Delaware's 2009 United Way employee campaign has ended on a high note, with gifts exceeding both the original goal for the fundraising drive and the amount donated by the campus community last year.

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With a goal of raising $175,000 to help families and individuals in need, the campaign concluded Friday, Nov. 20, with contributions from UD employees and retirees totaling $196,334. The campaign, with a nationwide theme of “Live United,” began on campus Oct. 19.

The drive supports the United Way of Delaware, the state's largest fundraising organization, which assists more than 100 human-service agencies in improving the quality of life for their clients. The statewide United Way campaign has set a goal of $20.5 million this year to support such key initiatives as helping children and youth achieve their potential, promoting financial stability and independence and improving health.

“When the employee campaign was launched, I said that we were setting an ambitious goal in a difficult environment, but one that I knew could be achieved through the generosity of the University of Delaware community,” UD President Patrick Harker said. “Once again, we've not only met but surpassed our goal, reaching out to our neighbors to help them and to make our entire community better and stronger.”

Campaign co-chairs J.J. Davis, UD vice president for administration, and Provost Tom Apple thanked the donors and volunteers, particularly the “United Way champions,” employees in departments and offices across campus who volunteered their time to bring the campaign's message to their colleagues and to answer questions about the campaign and the process of making a gift.

As the UD campaign concluded Friday, the final weekly drawing was held to select prizewinners from among those donors who chose to participate in the special raffles. Visit the University's United Way Web site to see a list of the campaign's 44 winners and their prizes, as well as other information about the drive.

UD has a long history of support for the United Way. In the last 14 years, members of the University community have contributed more than $2.7 million through the campaign. In the 2008 campaign, employees and retirees pledged $185,120, surpassing the fundraising target for the year.

Article by Ann Manser