The university’s faculty and staff long have been recognized for their charitable spirit. This was clearly evident in the recently completed U-M United Way campaign, organizers say.
While numbers for pledges and donations still are being calculated, it is estimated that U-M has raised approximately $1.15 million, the largest total ever gathered by faculty and staff.
“I am moved by the caring of our employees who have given at a time when their own resources are tight,” says campaign co-chair Doug Strong, director and CEO of the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers. “It’s this spirit of generosity that has lifted this campaign past a goal that many thought wasn’t possible. I’m proud to be a part of this very special effort.”
Departments across campus used a variety of strategies to encourage increased giving to the United Way campaign.
The School of Social Work held a “Rice and Beans” lunch served during a faculty brown/bag meeting. The thought behind the lunch was to feature various rice and bean dishes, a staple food for many parts of the world. Attendees were encouraged to donate the amount of money they would have spent for a regular lunch. The money collected was designated to help alleviate hunger within the community.
Similarly, the Department of Anesthesiology collected donations for the campaign during its annual holiday party, thrown at the end of the year for all Operating Room staff.
Friendly competition among units was key in the academic affairs area, as offices worked to increase their participation rates.
In the competition among the wide array of offices and programs that report to the Office of the Provost, the Office of New Student Programs took top honors by achieving a 100 percent participation rate. The School of Education won a similar competition among the schools and colleges. Each of the winning units received a plaque to display in its office. In addition, a plaque recognizing the annual winners from the schools and colleges and the academic affairs programs will be displayed in the Office of the Provost.
“In a year when many in southeast Michigan have faced hardships, the U-M faculty and staff have given generously to United Way programs that will assist them,” says campaign co-chair Provost Teresa Sullivan. “It was wonderful to see the engagement of so many members of the campus community in the campaign.”
Also featured this year was a weekly drawing where donors were entered to win tickets to University Musical Society performance and U-M basketball games. Individuals from the following departments won this year:
• Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Accounts Payable
• Chemical Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering
• Department of Internal Medicine
• University Audits Office
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Dermatology Department
• Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Orthotics & Prosthetics
While the annual campaign now is complete, the university assists with donations to United Way throughout the entire year. Pledges can be made at any time. For more information go to www.uway.umich.edu.
