The University of Arkansas United Way Campaign concludes this week, on Friday, but there's still time to give and decide the outcome in a pair of campus challenges.

The campaign, the 87th between the U of A and United Way of NWA, began Oct. 1 with a goal of raising $100,000. As of Friday, more than $63,900 had been raised.  

United Way of Northwest Arkansas has served the region since 1931. All donations go to the United Way of NWA with 98 percent going directly to local programs which help children, families and individuals in areas of education, housing, healthy food access, childhood development, and physical and mental well-being. To learn more about the work of United Way of NWA in our community visit unitedwaynwa.org.

The co-chairs of this year's campaign, Deacue Fields, dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; Brian Primack, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions; and Rick Thorpe, deputy athletics director of external engagement with Razorback Athletics, created two challenges.

The Dean's Challenge Award goes to the college with the highest percentage of employees making contributions while the Department Challenge Award goes to the department with the highest percentage of employees who give. Both challenges will be determined in the final week of the campaign.

This year's campaign also marks two milestones as the 90th anniversary of the United Way of Northwest Arkansas as well as the 150th year for the U of A. In honor of the university's sesquicentennial, everyone not already donating an annual gift of $150 or more is asked to consider giving $150 this year, which comes out to $12.50 per month.

Payroll deductions, recurring gifts or one-time credit card donations can be made online at unitedway.uark.edu. Payroll deductions are re-authorized each year and deductions begin in January 2022. Faculty and staff may donate to a specific organization through the United Way of Northwest Arkansas. Any donation of $100 or more to a 501(c)(3) organization, as defined by the IRS, and serving Northwest Arkansas, will be passed on directly to that organization.

Donation cards were distributed to campus staff who do not have regular access to the internet and should be returned to a campus coordinator. A full list of campus coordinators along with progress toward the campaign goal can be found at unitedway.uark.edu.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.