Andrews Kicks off United Way Campaign
Annual campaign started Oct. 1
by Becky St. Clair
The 2014 Andrews University United Way Campaign begins October 1. This annual event encourages faculty and staff to support United Way, an organization that strives to provide people and families in local communities with education, income stability and healthy lives. United Way also works to provide basic needs in times of crisis.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “Bursting the Andrews Bubble” to support the community in which we all live. Rebecca May, campus and community relations coordinator, and Dalry Payne, executive assistant to the president, co-chairs of the Andrews University United way Employee Campaign, and Cutis VanderWaal, professor of social work and campaign advisor, lead the campus campaign.
“Healthy communities are good for all of us,” says May. “It helps us build stronger, more sustainable places to live and work.”
The Andrews goals this year are to raise $25,000 with 30 percent participation by both faculty and staff. Gifts of all kinds are welcome and encouraged, including gifts of volunteering with United Way. All funds will go directly to United Way of Southwest Michigan.
“We may never be able to top our 2012 incentive of President Andreasen jumping into the pool in his business suit,” says May, “but we do plan to have a little fun along the way.”
To help achieve these goals, for the first time this year the Andrews campus has been divided into seven groups, with 13 campus leaders acting as United Way campaign spokespersons at staff meetings and United Way rallies, and answering questions about the campaign on an individual basis.
“We’ve asked faculty and staff to prayerfully consider how they can support this worthy endeavor,” says May. “We have made improvements in our participation over the last several years, but it’s time to get more involved, better informed, and go outside our Andrews and Adventist bubble and do even more to support the needs of our neighbors.”
The United Way campaign on the Andrews campus ends on October 31. For any questions or to make a donation of funds or time, consult the United Way campaign packet you received October 1. For more information on United Way of Southwest Michigan, visit uwsm.org or follow them at facebook.com/unitedwayswmich.
