University Times

Pitt’s 2004 United Way fundraising campaign will kick off Oct. 19 and run through Nov. 24. This year’s campaign goal is $610,000.

Last year, the University collected $598,143. Faculty and staff pledged $496,111; students pledged $80,000; retirees contributed $18,752, and special events brought in $3,280. There were 2,198 donors who pledged contributions during last year’s campaign.

Pitt’s 2003 overall campaign and the Pitt retirees campaign each received Silver Awards from United Way for achieving a per person gift in the $50-$99 range.

As in past years, donors can direct all or a portion of their donation to an unrestricted fund (called the Impact Fund) or to a specific United Way affiliated group, including 54 such eligible groups at Pitt.

Last year, Pitt raised $252,942 for the Impact Fund, a pool of unrestricted contributions allocated to some 70 partner agencies deemed by United Way to deliver measurable results in improving the quality of life in the county. These agencies fall into six areas: children and families; health and mental health; seniors; housing; neighborhoods, and workforce development.

The University’s goal this year is to increase the amount given to the Impact Fund by at least 8 percent, with a goal of $273,000.

Last year, United Way of Allegheny County changed its fundraising strategy by withholding 15 percent of donations to offset operating costs. In prior years, a small flat fee was withheld from designated gifts, while overhead costs came from unrestricted gifts.

The withholding percentage has been lowered to 12 percent this year, according to Pitt-United Way steering committee member Jean McDonough.

“We will continue to work on increasing our participation and dollars given to the Impact Fund,” said McDonough, assistant to the UW campaign chair. In addition, the steering committee hopes to encourage an increase in student involvement in the campaign and increase overall awareness of campaign activities through promotion and an improved web site, she said.

Members of the 2004 Pitt-United Way steering committee include: campaign manager Sue Steele, Institutional Advancement; campaign co-chairs G. Reynolds Clark, Community and Governmental Relations, and Jerry Martin, obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences; Shawn Ahearn, Vanessa Gerideau and Bill Young, University Marketing Communications; Jean Ferketish and Kim Honath, Office of the Chancellor; Joyce Giangarlo, Student Life; Tiffany Huff, Michelle Jarvis, Doug Martin, McDonough, Fran Povlick and Mary Treganowan, Institutional Advancement; Chris Kenyhercz, Office of Administration, Health Sciences; George Klinzing, Office of the Provost; Michael LaFrankie, School of Medicine; Jason Morrill, Special Events; Heidi Pido, Parking, Transportation and Services, and John Wilds and Steve Zupcic, Community and Governmental Relations.

Steering committee member Robert Dunkelman heads the retirees campaign.

Sandra Bernardi, United Way of Allegheny County, serves as the UW representative on the committee.

Payroll deduction and on-line pledging are available again this year. The Pitt-United Way web site address is: www.pitt.edu/~united, which provides a link for pledging as well as updates on the campaign.

Pitt will hold prize drawings during the campaign on Oct. 29, Nov. 12 and Dec. 3. Participants who return their pledge cards to 500 Craig Hall by noon on the day of a drawing will be eligible for that drawing and future drawings. On-line pledges received by the deadline are added automatically to the drawing. This year’s grand prize will be airline tickets, awarded at the Dec. 3 drawing. The Book Center will sponsor a holiday card sale Nov. 1 – 6, with all proceeds going to Pitt’s United Way campaign.

For more information on the campaign, contact McDonough at 412/624-5846.

-Peter Hart