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September 27, 2007

United Way drive to begin

Pitt’s 2007 United Way fundraising campaign begins Oct. 11, and will run through Nov. 30.

This year’s campaign goal is $600,000.

Last year, the University collected $553,247, surpassing the $500,000 goal. Faculty and staff pledged $520,702; retirees contributed $28,875, and special events brought in $3,580. There were 2,493 donors who pledged contributions during last year’s campaign.

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 41 such eligible groups at Pitt. (See box.)

This year, the United Way Impact Fund will focus on prevention strategies in the areas of trouble in the teenage years; financial struggles for adults and families; vulnerability of older seniors, and risks to children and youth.

Pitt’s United Way leadership team is encouraging donations to the Impact Fund, a pool of unrestricted contributions allocated to some 60 nonprofit agencies deemed by United Way to deliver measurable results in improving the quality of life in the county.

Last year, 1,487 Pitt donors raised $255,876 for the fund, campaign officials reported.

“We are every excited about the new direction that focuses on prevention strategies to strengthen our communities that United Way has implemented this year,” said Anne Franks, Pitt’s United Way campaign manager and human resources administration manager in the Office of Institutional Advancement.

“With the focus on prevention, we are challenged to do more to help our friends and neighbors in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. We are looking for increased participation across all areas of the University to support the new initiatives of the campaign.”

Payroll deduction and online pledging are available. The Pitt-United Way web site is: www.pitt.edu/~united; the site provides a link for pledging as well as updates on the campaign.

Policies regarding donations include:

• United Way will accept credit card pledges only online.

• United Way will not accept cash donations.

• Because of processing costs, campaign officials are asking that payroll deduction pledges be a minimum of $24 per year.

Pitt will hold prize drawings on Oct. 19, Nov. 9 and Dec. 7. Participants who pledge online or return their pledge cards to 500 Craig Hall by noon on the day of a drawing will be eligible for that drawing as well as future drawings.

Prizes include event tickets, memberships, hotel stays and restaurant gift certificates.

The Book Center will sponsor a Hallmark boxed holiday card sale with all proceeds going to Pitt’s United Way campaign.

For more information, contact Franks at 4-4089.

—Peter Hart

Filed under: Feature,Volume 40 Issue 3

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