University Times

More than a half-million dollars was raised through Pitt’s 2006 United Way fundraising drive, surpassing the goal set, according to Institutional Advancement.

By the May 1 close of the campaign, 2,493 faculty, staff and retirees had pledged $553,247, surpassing the $500,000 goal and topping last year’s total by nearly $40,000. The average gift was $236. The employee participation rate of 21 percent fell short of the targeted goal of 30 percent.

The campaign saw an increase of 16 donors in the leadership category, those pledging at least $1,000. The increase brought that total to 193 individuals who gave a total of $301,089, or 54 percent of the campaign total, with an average pledge of $1,560.