11:57 a.m., Oct. 20, 2009----The University of Delaware kicked off its 2009 United Way of Delaware employee campaign on Monday, Oct. 19, with a goal of making $175,000 in donations to the state's largest fundraising organization, which supports more than 100 agencies helping families and individuals in need.

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“We've set an ambitious goal in a tough environment,” UD President Patrick Harker told a group of key volunteers at the kickoff event. “But last year was a tough year, and we did it, and I think we can do it this year too.”

Last year, he noted, some 766 University employees and retirees pledged $185,120 to the campaign, surpassing the target. And, in the past 14 years, the UD community has contributed more than $2.7 million through the United Way campaign.

“If you do the math, you'll see the odds are with us,” Harker said. “At the end of the day, we are reaching out to our neighbors and helping not only them but our community get better and stronger.”

He also announced that the fundraising drive, which continues until about Nov. 20, is off to a good start, with nearly $46,000 already pledged by UD administrators through the early Pacesetters Campaign.

Monday's event drew about 75 “United Way champions” -- employees in departments and offices across campus who have volunteered their time to bring the campaign's message to their colleagues -- to the Perkins Student Center for an educational session and rally. Beginning Tuesday, employees will receive e-mail messages about the campaign, and the champions will be available to answer any questions their co-workers have about the United Way or the process of making a donation.

The national campaign slogan, “Live United,” emphasizes the United Way's mission of maximizing community resources by partnering with human-service agencies to improve the quality of life for those in need of help.

“Without your help, programs for our children, our seniors, the most vulnerable in our community, would simply stop,” said Michelle Taylor, president of the United Way of Delaware. “A lot of people who are being helped by our agency are your family members, your friends and neighbors. With your help we can not just make a difference, we can be the difference in the lives of people in need.”

Tom Apple, provost and co-chair of the employee campaign at UD, told the group that the annual drive is “one of the most important things that we do as a University.” He cited a few statistics about the services the United Way of Delaware was able to provide last year because of the generosity of donors. They include:

• 1,700 women with high-risk pregnancies received prenatal care;
• 4,000 children were enrolled in preschool programs;
• 41,600 people accessed preventive healthcare education, substance abuse treatment, respite care and patient support services; and
• 27,500 young people attended youth development programs.

Employees will be asked to donate through an electronic form, if possible. Donations can be made through payroll deduction, credit card, electronic check or “bill me later” options. They can be a general gift to the United Way of Delaware's Community Impact Fund, targeted to a strategic focus area such as families and children or strong neighborhoods, or designated to one or more specific agencies.

Donors who choose to take part in the incentive aspect of the campaign will have their names entered into drawings for prizes including tickets to athletic events or performances, an Outdoor Pool membership, a yearlong gold parking pass or gift certificates from a variety of local businesses. This year, seven names will be drawn during each of the five weeks of the campaign, with winners announced on the UD United Way Web site.

“I know that our goal this year of $175,000 sounds extraordinary,” said J.J. Davis, UD vice president for administration and co-chair of the campus campaign. “But these are extraordinary times. There are a lot of people in need, and our employees have always been generous.”

Also speaking at the event was David Graham, a maintenance engineer with University Facilities, who told the group about the ways in which his son, who has autism, has benefited from top-notch programs supported by the United Way of Delaware. Another speaker, Bill Carl of Newark Day Nursery and Children's Center, said his agency relies on the United Way to support its goal of making its high-quality child care available to families regardless of their income. April Stokes-Williams, president of AFSCME Local 439, told the group that her organization has always supported the United Way and has members who have benefited directly from its services.

More information, including a list of champions from the various units across campus and a list of the prizes offered as incentives, is available on the UD United Way campaign Web site.

Behind the scenes volunteers recognized

In addition to the United Way campaign co-chairs and planning committee at UD, several employees and volunteers worked behind the scenes to prepare for Monday's kickoff event. In particular, the planning committee acknowledged: Dana Brittingham, Office of Equity and Inclusion, who designed the thank-you poster given to sponsors; Joe Filippone, Facilities Planning and Construction, who produced the posters for the kickoff event; Jeff Lindell and Joann Watts, Custodial Services, who donated their own time to assemble water bottles that were given to the United Way Champions; and Brittingham's son, Samson Alexander, who also helped assemble water bottles.

Article by Ann Manser
Photos by Ambre Alexander