U of A United Way Campaign Has Bright Finish, Record Numbers

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas staff and faculty members donated $18,469 to the U of A United Way campaign in the week from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7, lifting the Paint Their Future Bright – Child by Child total to $138,064.03. This total is about $1000 more than collected last year, and represents 81 percent of the campaign goal of $170,000.

“This is a wonderful response, and we are grateful to every staff and faculty member who contributed,” said Kim Needy, campaign co-chair. “We knew our aspirational goal was high, but I don’t think we could have raised this much without aiming high.”

The funds will go to the United Way of Northwest Arkansas for the agencies and programs that serve more than 27,000 local children who live in poverty.

Contributions in the final days included $360 raised in a bake sale at the Sam M.  Walton College of Business and about $240 raised from the Halloween Fun House at Global Campus. Additional donations are also expected later this month, from an in-house pie auction at Global Campus and a Chili Cook-off on Nov. 18 at Facilities Management.

“The active campaign ended on Oct.31, but it’s great to see that people continued to turn in their donation cards, make gifts online and plan fund raising events for the U of A United Way campaign,” said campaign co-chair Stacy Leeds. “The participation of our staff and faculty has really been excellent. It shows the true spirit of the United Way.”

So far 35 percent of staff and faculty members have participated in the campaign by turning in their donation cards, up from 30 percent last year, and 20 percent the year before. Several campus units had participation of 100 percent or more:

• Athletics, with 255 staff members, had 100 percent participation
• Electrical Engineering, with 94 staff and faculty members, had 104 percent participation -- some members contributing more than once
• University Police, with 52 staff members, had 118 percent participation
• Parking Program Operations, with 32 staff members, had 103 percent participation
• University Recreation, with 25 staff members, had 100 percent participation
• Student Activities, with 11 staff members, had 100 percent participation

Four of those who participated were selected to win the final four $100 gift cards given out during the campaign: Brad Mize, dining service technician with University Housing; Carmen Alessi, executive assistant to the dean in Bumpers College; Joshua Idaszak, and Katie Doughty, administrative specialist II in Student Affairs. .

“Of course we will continue to accept donations until the end of the year,” said Jacque Linebarger, campaign coordinator. “Our website -- http://unitedway.uark.edu -- will be live until Dec. 31, and the ‘Donate’ button can take campus staff and faculty members to the secure online donation page any time until then. Last year the amount we raised in November and December was significant, and of course it all goes to help the children served by the United Way of Northwest Arkansas, to Paint Their Future Bright – Child by Child. Our thanks go out to everyone who contributes to this campaign.”