U of A United Way Campaign Set to Begin Soon

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This year’s U of A United Way Campaign will kick off Monday, Oct. 2, and will run through Nov. 3. Renewals and new donations will be accepted online throughout the campaign.

Campaign co-chairs this year are Peter MacKeith, dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design; Suzanne McCray, vice provost of Enrollment Services; and Elvis Moya, associate athletics director of community outreach and fan engagement.

“This is a call to action for us to come together with thoughtful intention to support local solutions in our community,” MacKeith said. “Our efforts as a campus can help improve the health, education and financial stability of everyone in our community by becoming united in purpose.”  

The United Way of Northwest Arkansas has served the region since 1931 with the purpose of harnessing the collective strength and generosity of the community to empower everyone in the region to thrive. In 1935, students at the U of A mobilized to help United Way raise funds for community programs. That was the start of a lasting friendship between the campus community and United Way of Northwest Arkansas. 

“For 88 years, university faculty, staff and students have demonstrated a strong commitment to making a positive impact locally,” said Jackie Hancock Jr., United Way president and chief executive officer and a 2017 U of A graduate with a Master of Science in Operations Management. “Our collective efforts have addressed specific needs and created a more inclusive and supportive environment for people on campus and in the surrounding community.”

Donations directly support programs that help meet the needs of community members by increasing access to vital resources such as housing, education, childhood development and more. The fundraising goal for this year’s campus campaign is $100,000.

United Way 2024 Campaign Video from United Way on Vimeo.

Options for Giving

Payroll deductions, recurring gifts or one-time credit card donations can be made online at unitedway.uark.edu beginning Oct. 2. Payroll deductions begin in January 2024. 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 are 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 can be found at unitedway.uark.edu.

To learn more about the work of United Way of NWA in our community, visit unitedwaynwa.org.

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 few 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.