United Way Campaign at Halfway Point - Donations at Only 39 Percent of Goal

Photo by Charlie Alison

l-r: back row: Provost Ashok Saxena, interim Vice Chancellor Tim O'Donnell, Vice Chancellor Charles Robinson, Vice Chancellor Chris Wyrick, General Counsel Scott Varady; l-r front row, Vice Chancellor Randy Massanelli, Associate Vice Chancellor Laura Jacobs, interim Chancellor Dan Ferritor.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas United Way campaign, Community Strong – Child by Child, enters the midpoint of its October fund drive with total donations of $61,653.29, which is roughly 39 percent of its goal.

“We appreciate the donations we’ve received already, but we don’t want to lose momentum,” said Kim Needy, dean of the Graduate School and International Education and co-chair of the campus campaign. “So far about 12 percent of our staff and faculty have returned their pledge cards, which means we still have time for a major surge of participation and donations. It appears at this point that most of the participation is coming from our staff members, which is wonderful. But the next two weeks are an opportunity for our faculty to meet the challenge.”

Donations to this year’s campaign go to 57 agencies and 67 programs supported by the United Way of Northwest Arkansas that are working to build a pathway out of poverty for approximately 26,000 children living in our area.

HOW YOUR DONATIONS CAN WORK

There are many ways to accomplish this goal. The Single Parent Scholarship Fund, for example, helped "Laura", a domestic abuse survivor and the single mother of 4 children, attend college and earn a bachelor’s degree. The fund also provided support and networking programs while she was in school. Within three months of graduating in May “Laura” had a management job with Walmart, with full benefits, and was able to move with her children from her parents’ home into a place of their own. Through all this her children say their mom set goals, work hard to achieve them, and reap the rewards.

IT’S EASY TO DONATE

There are several was to making a donation and none are difficult. You can contribute online by going to the U of A United Way website and clicking on the “Donate Now” button. It takes you to a secure, private site where you can give through monthly or one-time payroll deduction, make a pledge, or ask the United Way of Northwest Arkansas to send you a bill. No credit card information is needed. 

A few simple clicks and you’ve helped make our Community Strong – Child by Child. No donation is too small to help.

Or – you can make a donation through the personal card you received from the U of A United Way campaign. Fill it out and return it to your unit or department representative. In fact, even if you donate online – please fill out and return your card so we can count your participation. We care as much about that as about the amount we raise.

When you turn in your card it also makes you eligible for the weekly drawing for $100 Walmart gift cards. Ten people on campus have already won. You have two more chances.