This year's U of A United Way Campaign begins today and will run through Nov. 3 with the goal of raising $100,000 to support United Way of Northwest Arkansas.

Renewals and new donations will be accepted online throughout the campaign. Early donations of more than $18,500 have helped the U of A make a strong start.

"The University of Arkansas is firmly dedicated to helping communities throughout our state, and this campaign is another opportunity to work together to make a significant difference in the lives of many," said Suzanne McCray, vice provost of Enrollment Services and one of campus' three campaign co-chairs. "If every faculty and staff member gives just $13, we can reach and even surpass our campus-wide goal." 

A new addition to the campaign this year, the Razorback men's basketball program will host a preseason charity exhibition game on Oct. 28 against the Purdue Boilermakers. Proceeds from the game will be part of the U of A campus United Way campaign, and the funds will support the Arkansas 211 program of the United Way of NWA.

Arkansas 211, a statewide program headquartered at the United Way of NWA, is a free, confidential, 24-hour-a-day, multilingual way to connect individuals and families to critical local resources. These include food, shelter, rental assistance, childcare and more. Arkansas 211 helps callers navigate their situation and then matches them with the best and closest resources in their community. Visit the Arkansas Razorbacks ticketing site to purchase tickets to the game.

The United Way of Northwest Arkansas has served the region since 1931 with the goal of marshaling the collective strength of the community to help those in need throughout the state. Donations directly support programs that help increase access to vital resources such as housing, education, childhood development and more.

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.