University Times

“We’re not at our goal yet,” says Anne Franks, chair of this year’s United Way campaign and executive director of administration in Institutional Advancement, “but we’re moving along really well.”

Pitt’s campaign continues through Jan. 8, although members of the Pitt community contribute long after that date, she says.

Franks hopes events held by campaign volunteers will continue to raise awareness about the campaign “and create excitement. People are really willing to engage with United Way if [an event] makes the whole campaign visible.”

Following the United Way kick-off luncheon in October, Pitt schools and departments have held such events as a movie night in the afternoon (School of Information Sciences), raffles and a dress-down day (Parking and Transportation Services), a fundraising lunch (University Dental Health Services), holiday basket raffles (nursing’s Department of Acute and Tertiary Care), a bake sale (public health’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health), continental breakfasts with auctions (Learning Research and Development Center), soup and bread sales (the University Library System’s Archives Services Center), a pancake breakfast (Computing Services and Systems Development) and even a speaker (Student Housing).

The campaign has raised $540,806 so far toward its $690,000 goal. Last year’s campaign on campus drew $656,600 in donations, while the previous year set a campus record at $665,000.

“I want to encourage the University community to make your donations to the United Way as soon as possible,” Franks says. “Your donation helps children succeed in school, struggling families to be safe, seniors to live in a healthy way at home, our veterans to get help and jobs.”

—Marty Levine