UConn Advance - November 13, 2007 - Charitable campaign reaches midway point

With the 2007 State Employees’ Campaign for Charitable Giving past its mid-point, contributions at the Storrs campus are more than half way to this year’s goal of $135,000.

President Michael J. Hogan enthusiastically endorses the Campaign. He shared his perspective on giving in a University-wide e-mail last month.

“A common question is: ‘Why contribute through the University of Connecticut?’” he wrote. “There are a couple of good reasons. First, the University receives significant support from the citizens of this state. It’s meaningful for Connecticut taxpayers to see that we recognize the support the University receives and willingly give back to our communities.

“Second, the costs of fundraising are substantial – particularly for small agencies,” he said.

“Umbrella campaigns, such as the State Employees’ Campaign, absorb some of these costs for the individual agencies, allowing them to devote more funds to the urgent needs they address in our communities.

“If you have already completed your pledge card and submitted it, thank you! If not, I encourage you to pledge to the charity of your choice,” Hogan added.

Every employee has received a pledge card. A card can also be downloaded from the President’s website: http://president.uconn.edu/Pledge%20Card2007-b.pdf. If using a pledge card from the web site, when completing it be sure to note affiliation with a University of Connecticut campus under the “State Agency Name” section.

Completed pledge cards should be sent to your campus representative or, if you are uncertain who your campus representative is, send the completed card to the President’s Office, Gulley Hall, U-2048.

Additional information, including directories of charitable organizations, can be found at http://www.csec.ct.gov/

The UConn Health Center, the top state agency for giving through the Campaign for the past two years, launched its 2007 campaign with a “Kick-off in the Courtyard” Oct. 3, featuring representatives from charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society, Food Share, and the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

The Health Center also held a bake sale, and firefighters held a “fill-the-boot” drive.

Health Center campaign chair Mary Ellen Bonelli reports that contributions pledged are more than half-way to the Health Center’s 2007 goal of $170,000.

At the School of Social Work, $4,340 has been pledged to date, while at the Waterbury campus, $6,015 has been pledged and the total to date at the Greater Hartford Campus is $1,694.

At UConn’s campus in Torrington, amounts pledged have been similar to those of earlier years. At Avery Point, campus chair Joyce Wood says contributions have not yet been tallied, but a chili cook-off fundraiser is planned to benefit the Campaign’s charities.

At the School of Law, campaign chair Laurie Werling says the Campaign closed at the end of October, with $12,483 having been raised. She said the School of Law raised $8,920 in 2006, making this year’s total a 40 percent increase.

In Storrs, Steve Rhodes, special assistant to the president, recently joined the Husky mascot at Chuck & Augie’s in the Student Union for the first weekly drawing for donated gifts for Storrs-based employees who complete pledges.

Employees become eligible to win one of these gifts as soon as their pledge cards are submitted. Drawings will be held throughout November, as well as at a reception for Campaign supporters in January.

A reception is planned for Jan. 17, for all Storrs-based contributors to the 2007 Campaign, with Jan. 24 as a back-up date in the event of adverse weather.

Charitable campaign reaches midway point

by Lauren Shea - November 13, 2007