Red, White & True Kicks Off Fifth Year of Giving Back

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Time flies when you're having fun, and it's hard to believe that Red, White & True—the annual faculty and staff giving program at the University of Arkansas—is celebrating its fifth anniversary of making a difference! The 2015 effort kicks off today, Tuesday, and participation packets will be hitting campus mailboxes soon.

Giving back begins from within, and to honor all the ways faculty and staff do just that, Red, White & True and Workin' Like a Hog — the Arkansas Alumni Association's on-campus membership program — are teaming up this year. Through gifts to the U of A and membership in the association, we make an incredible impact for the students and programs we work with on campus every day.

And with this partnership, the biggest volunteer team yet and even a Selfless Selfie social media challenge, Red, White & True's 5th anniversary effort is sure to be the most spirited and successful one to date!

Leading the charge are Mary Alice Serafini, assistant vice provost for student affairs and executive director of the Pat Walker Health Center, and Javier Reyes, vice provost for distance education and associate professor of economics, who are serving as this year's co-chairs.

"There's no better way to build the future than through education, and my membership helps do just that by providing scholarships to talented students," Reyes says. "As co-chair, I hope to lead by example and encourage all faculty and staff to give back to their favorite areas of campus, too."

"It is important for me to be involved with the Red, White & True effort because of the shared commitment I have with my colleagues to participate in the success of programs and university initiatives," adds Serafini.  "By giving from the heart, we collectively make an impact on people's lives and the future of the University of Arkansas."

Joining the co-chairs are 38 volunteers from across campus who are equally passionate about the U of A and proud to give back.  Over the coming weeks, these volunteers will be reaching out to their colleagues to spread the word and encourage participation.

Wondering how you can be a part of such a great movement? From now until April 24, appointed faculty and staff members are invited to participate in the 2015 Red, White & True effort by making a gift of any amount to any area of campus, joining the Arkansas Alumni Association, or both.

If you've already joined the association or made a gift this fiscal year — whether to KUAF, the Staff Senate Scholarship, the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry or a specific college, department, program or fund — it counts. Thank you!

If not, a participation packet will be arriving in your campus mailbox soon, so please be on the lookout for your opportunity to get involved.  As always, you get to choose how your contribution will be used, so pick your passion and make an impact.

The Alumni Association is here to help. For questions about existing payroll deductions or making a new gift, contact Merin Macechko at 575-2944 or merin@uark.edu. Contact Carolyn Baltz at 575-7222 or ckbaltz@uark.edu about renewing your membership or joining the Arkansas Alumni Association for the very first time. And remember, anyone can be a member — you don't have to be a graduate of the U of A!