Faculty and Staff Donations Reach 60 Percent of U of A United Way Goal

Photo by Doug Talbot.

Campaign co-chairs Stacy Leeds and Kim Needy

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas faculty and staff donations to the U of A United Way campaign totaled $102,425.08 at the end of the third week of the 82nd annual fund raiser. That amounts to 60 percent of the campaign goal of raising $170,000 for the children served by the United Way of Northwest Arkansas.

The active campaign ends on Monday, Oct. 31.

“The only number that really matters in this campaign is 27,000 – the number of children living in poverty in Northwest Arkansas,” said Kim Needy, co-chair of the U of A campaign. “We can do something about that number – we can Paint Their Future Bright – Child by Child. Everyone who makes a contribution this week will make a difference in the lives of these children.”

Donations can be made online or with a donation card, with payroll deduction the most popular way to make a contribution. However, anyone who has made a payroll deduction in the past will need to renew it so it can take effect this year.

“If you are one of the people who tends to wait until the last minute to make a donation – the last minute is almost here,” said Stacy Leeds, campaign co-chair. “Time is running out. We hope to see a big surge of donor cards come in by Friday. You can expect to hear from the campus volunteers in your unit or department with a friendly reminder this week.”

For every dollar donated, 99 cents stays in Northwest Arkansas, and 86 cents of that goes to agencies and programs supported by the United Way of Northwest Arkansas to help children and their families find the path out of poverty.

There are many ways to contribute to the U of A United Way campaign besides, or in addition to, making a donation. Volunteers from Walton College have organized a bake sale starting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27. And the staff at Global Campus is hosting a Fun House from 3-5 p.m. on Halloween as part of Fayetteville’s annual ‘Trick-or-Treat on the Square.’ Every dollar raised will go to the U of A United Way campaign.

Andrew Roberts

“Whichever way you participate – with a donation, by volunteering, or by helping our community in another way – please let us know by turning in your donation card,” said Jacque Linebarger. “So far we have 26 percent participation, but we know we can do even better. This Friday is also the last time we will have a drawing for a gift card – just one more reason to turn in your donor card.”

Last week’s winner of $100 gift cards were Gene Burns from Parking Program Operation and Andrew Roberts from Athletics.