University Times

Pitt hopes to increase participation as well as exceed last year’s total in the 2012 United Way campaign, which runs through Nov. 2.

Last year the University raised $617,161, up more than $6,000 from the previous year’s total.

A total of $300,503 was directed last year to the United Way Impact Fund, a pool of unrestricted contributions allocated to nonprofit agencies deemed by United Way to deliver measurable results in improving the quality of life in the county.

Donors can direct all or a portion of their donation to the Impact Fund or to a specific United Way organization.

A list of the United Way partner agencies is available by accessing the “Donate Now” link on the Pitt-United Way web site (www.unitedway.pitt.edu); other eligible organizations can be found on the “Donate Now” link by clicking on “United Way Partner Agencies Search Agency Codes.”

Pitt’s United Way leadership team again is encouraging donations to the Impact Fund. The fund will focus on helping struggling families avoid homelessness and put food on the table; reducing risk factors for young children; motivating kids to succeed in school; preventing youth violence, and keeping the elderly and people with disabilities safe and healthy at home.

Pitt campaign leaders also are encouraging faculty and staff to designate part of their donation to a new initiative called United for Women, which supports newly struggling women whose lives have been impacted by a traumatic event, such as a divorce or health crisis.

Anne Franks, Pitt’s United Way campaign manager and executive director of administration in the Office of Institutional Advancement, said: “We are looking forward to building on the success of last year’s campaign, which was due in large part to the tireless dedication and hard work of the coordinators and representatives across the University. I know that the $617,000 that we raised at Pitt last year supported the people in our region who need our help the most. The generosity of our volunteers and our donors reflects the caring spirit of the people in the Pitt community.”

Payroll deduction is available on the Pitt-United Way web site; the site also provides a link for online pledging, as well as updates on the campaign. The campaign team is encouraging everyone in the University community to go paperless this year by pledging online. Last year 84 percent of Pitt donations were made online.

Policies regarding donations include:

• United Way will not accept cash donations.

• Campaign officials ask that payroll deduction pledges be a minimum of $24 per year, deducted monthly.

Pitt will hold prize drawings on Oct. 12, Oct. 26 and Nov. 9.

The Book Center again will sponsor a Hallmark boxed holiday card sale with proceeds going to Pitt’s campaign. Dates for the sale have not been finalized, Franks said.

For more information, contact Franks at 4-4089 or anne.franks@ia.pitt.edu.