Faculty and Staff Make 2014 Best Year Yet for Red, White & True

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Members of the 2014 Red, White & True volunteer team pose for a picture during this year's celebration event.

Contributions from the 2014 Red, White & True faculty and staff giving effort have officially been tallied, and the results are in – it was the best year yet! From the number of donors and funds supported to the overall participation rate and amount given, the fourth annual effort, which ended on June 30, was one for the record books.

Before campus quieted down for the summer, co-chairs Richard Hudson and Yvette Murphy-Erby gave a sneak peek of this year’s results during a celebration event sponsored by Bold Dental. At the time, just six weeks before the final deadline, faculty, staff and retirees had already matched last year’s record of 31 percent participation. 

Ready for the final results? In all, 1,676 current and retired YOU of A employees made a gift to the university during the 2014 fiscal year, for an impressive 33 percent participation rate. That’s 182 more donors than last year and a remarkable 658 more than when the program started in 2011, showing just how dedicated staff and faculty truly are to making the YOU of A the best it can be.

Together, the group contributed $449,604 during 2014 with an additional $61,000 pledged to the university through payroll deductions. And, as always, small gifts added up in a big way. This past year alone, gifts under $100 totaled more than $129,000. After all, that’s what Red, White & True is all about – the power of participation!
 

Bold Dental, a supporter of this year's Red, White & True campaign

These gifts were designated to a record 250 different funds all across campus, directly supporting the students, programs and research faculty and staff work with every day.  In addition to donors’ own colleges and departments, perennial favorites like KUAF, the Staff Senate Scholarship Fund, the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry, the University Libraries and membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association remained the most popular funds. Nonetheless, faculty and staff also gave back to a variety of new areas this year too, including the Veterans Resource and Information Center, the UAPD K-9 unit, Autism Support Program Scholarships and the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

This year’s co-chairs and 27-member volunteer team wish to thank all who participated in the fourth annual Red, White & True effort, no matter what area you supported. And in the spirit of giving, remember that Bold Dental is generously offering all University of Arkansas employees and their families, both current and retired, free custom whitening for as long as you’re a patient. Simply print this coupon and take it to the Bold Dental office, conveniently located in the Garland Center on campus, to get started.