University Times

Pitt hopes to raise $600,000 in this year’s United Way campaign, which runs Oct. 14-Nov. 25.

Last year, the University collected $561,904, falling short of the $630,000 campaign goal. Faculty and staff pledged $532,701; retirees contributed $21,785, and special events brought in $7,418.

Pitt’s 2008 campaign drew a participation rate of 20 percent. Of 2,388 givers, 1,755 directed $277,532 to the United Way Impact Fund, a pool of unrestricted contributions allocated to some 62 nonprofit agencies deemed by United Way to deliver measurable results in improving the quality of life in the county.

There was an increase of 7.7 percent in the number of donors last year, and a 1.5 percent increase in leadership giving, that is, individuals who gave at least $1,000.

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 “How to Give Link” on the Pitt United Way web site (www.unitedway.pitt.edu); other eligible organizations can be found by accessing the “Search Agency Codes” link.

Pitt’s United Way leadership team encourages donations to the Impact Fund. This year, the Impact Fund will focus on helping struggling families put food on the table; find and maintain employment; keep utilities active, and avoid home foreclosures.

The Impact Fund also provides support for programs to help the elderly, disabled individuals and children and youth. The fund’s community initiatives focus on motivating kids to succeed in school; preventing youth violence, and helping seniors to be healthy and safe at home.

Anne Franks, Pitt’s United Way campaign manager and executive director of administration in the Office of Institutional Advancement, said: “Although everyone in the Pitt community has been affected by the economic crisis, we came together [last year] and raised more than $560,000 to support the United Way campaign.The University of Pittsburgh has established a tradition of providing aid to our local community, and I hope everyone considers making a gift to the United Way campaign this year.”

Payroll deduction and online pledging are available on the Pitt-United Way web site; the site also provides a link for pledging as well as updates on the campaign. The campaign team is encouraging everyone in the University to go paperless this year by pledging 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. 23, Nov. 13 and Dec. 4. Participants who pledge online or return their pledge form to the Pitt United Way office at 107 Park Plaza, 128 N. Craig St. by noon on the day of a drawing will be eligible for that drawing as well as future drawings. Prizes include event tickets, hotel stays and restaurant gift certificates.

The Book Center will sponsor a Hallmark boxed holiday card sale Oct. 20-Nov. 26 with proceeds going to Pitt’s campaign.

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

—Peter Hart

HEADING UP PITT’S UW CAMPAIGN

Members of the 2009 Pitt United Way steering committee include campaign manager Anne Franks, Institutional Advancement (IA), and campaign co-chair G. Reynolds Clark, community initiatives and chief of staff, Office of the Chancellor.

Other steering committee members are: Andrew Blair, Office of the Provost; Jocelyn Cilik, Student Affairs; Jean Ferketish, Office of the Chancellor; Heidi Fonzi, Parking, Transportation and Services; Chris Kenyhercz, Office of Administration, Health Sciences; Jeff Masnick, Health Sciences; Natalie Sten, Employee/Labor Relations; Sharon Malazich, Special Events; Juli Lawrence, Doug Martin, Jean McDonough and Michelle Page, IA; Trish White and Bill Young, Public Affairs; John Wilds, Governmental Relations, and Steve Zupcic, Community Relations.

Steering committee member Elaine Meisner heads the retirees campaign. Megan Marucco is the United Way representative.