The 1999 Connecticut State Employees Campaign for Charitable Giving begins this week, offering members of the University community an opportunity to support any of more than 900 different charities.

Faculty and staff will receive information about the campaign and a donation form in a colorful envelope within days.

The campagin falls under the United Way, an umbrella group of charitable organizations across the state. The charities support a wide range of services, including shelters for homeless people, care for children and seniors, environmental protection, and research to cure diseases, among others.

The campaign was launched last week during three breakfasts for volunteers interested in this year's

campaign. Last year, the University raised more than $102,000, nearly one-tenth of the statewide total of $1.2 million. UConn organizers note, however, that fewer than 600 people out of nearly 5,000 employees donated.

At Wednesday's breakfast, Joe Briody, campaign coordinator for the University, said he aims to exceed that amount in this year's contributions, but he added that generating money is not the only goal of this campaign. He also hopes to raise the level of awareness of the impact these charities have on the state's community and to increase the number of donors. Taken together, many small components will emerge as a campus-wide effort to make a difference in the lives of individuals.

The kick-off will be Mid-Day Madness, Friday, October 15, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on the Fairfield Way Promenade, across from Gampel Pavilion.

Mid-Day Madness gains its title from Midnight Madness, the festivities that begin the Husky basketball season, scheduled to take place that night. Briody called Mid-Day Madness a kick-off to "our own championship season over the next 30 days." The mid-day event will include ticket give-aways for Jorgensen Auditorium, music, raffles for UConn Co-Op merchandise, and stadium-style refreshments.

Donations may be mailed using the self-addressed envelopes included with the campaign literature. Requests for extra forms or questions about the campaign may be directed to Sarah Ackley at (860) 486-1001.

Marisha Chinsky