Drawing, "Food Off", Social Media Drive Help Support Programs That Work

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Richard Ashworth

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Richard Ashworth, a program director in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety is the winner of a UREC membership and a set of walkie-talkies last week’s United We Win prize drawing. He won by turning in his donor card.

That’s one way to contribute to the United We Win campaign. There are other ways, both traditional and high-tech.

On Friday, the College of Engineering held a “Food Off,” raising $212 for United Way, feeding faculty, staff and students with more than 25 dishes of delicious food to choose from. Janet Bowlin was the Best Dish winner with a scrumptious Apple Pie.

This week, the $1United social media drive was held from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday – with people using the Venmo app on their mobile devices to make donations to the United Way of Northwest Arkansas Venmo account. The totals are not in yet, but the first time mini fundraiser kept Twitter accounts busy all day.

“This is something we will definitely keep in future campaigns,” said Jacque Linebarger, campaign coordinator U of A United Way.

The total raised so far by the U of A United Way stands at $78,633 – as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. That’s still not quite 50 percent of the campaign goal of $160,000. University employees often contribute using payroll deduction, which take affect during the January 2018 pay period.

If anyone needs evidence that money is going to a good cause, this weekend the U.S. Census bureau released its annual survey of poverty around the country – including Northwest Arkansas. The survey showed that the number of children living in poverty in Northwest Arkansas has dropped from 27,000 to 21,000 – more than 20 percent. Many factors are involved, but this seems to be clear evidence that the programs supported by the United Way of Northwest Arkansas are working. These 38 programs provided services to children living in poverty last year – and will do that again this year.

“To give our campus community more time to make contributions, the U of A United Way committee decided to extend our campaign one more week,” said campaign co-chair Stacy Leeds. “We will have one more prize drawing – for a gift basket donated by the Law School – and everyone will have until Friday, Nov. 3 to make their contributions.

“We hope everyone will take advantage of the extended opportunity. It’s clear these contributions do make a difference. It isn’t acceptable for 21,000 children in our community to live in poverty. We can make a difference together. United We Win.”