The university’s 2010 United Way campaign is moving closer toward its goal of raising $650,000 to help support the 31 central Missouri social service agencies that receive funding through the Heart of Missouri United Way chapter.
This year’s community campaign goal is $3.3 million and donations from university students, faculty, staff and retirees make up about 20 percent of that goal.
As of Nov. 5, the university’s campaign had raised $557,708.66, or 86 percent of its goal. That's slightly ahead of last year at the same time, when the campaign had raised $552,912.65. “We are getting very close, but we want to finish strong,” says Richard Oliver, dean of health professions, and one of three chairs of this year’s MU/UM campaign.
Oliver believes the campaign’s goal will be met during Live United Week, Nov. 15 through 19. Even in the midst of challenging economic times, he says, university employees are cognizant of the needs of others. “They are willing to step up to help these agencies. A lot of our own employees use some of the services and people are sensitive to the fact that the community’s needs are quite dramatic.”
Contributions to Heart of Missouri United Way provide services such as shelter, domestic violence intervention, crisis counseling, education, food, medical care, disaster relief, child care comfort, and more to the 31 agencies as well as more than 60 community programs. Historically, only about one in five university employees donate to United Way, yet one in three throughout the central Missouri area benefit from United Way agencies.
Oliver encourages all employees to turn in their pledges to their unit chairs by Nov. 19. No donation is too small, he says. “Every dollar helps. Even if you think it is a very modest donation, it can yield big results.”