United Way Campaign Results
Staff & faculty break giving records
As President Andreasen stated in a message to campus in September, “The mission of Andrews University has always resonated with the mission of United Way—to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. It also takes us to the story in Matthew 25 where Jesus calls his followers to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick.”
Andrews employees truly embraced this year’s United Way campus campaign theme, Bursting the Andrews Bubble, ending the campaign with our best-ever results. More employee donors gave more dollars that will help fill more needs in our community.
“The campaign goals we set for this year were definitely ‘stretch’ goals, and while we didn’t quite hit those goals, we burst our own bubble and achieved new levels,” said Dalry Payne, United Way campus campaign leader. “We want to thank everyone who participated in this great campaign.”
President Andreasen and the team of campaign leaders had some fun putting together a thank you video for those who helped break records in the 2014 campaign.
United Way Campaign Totals
2014: 216 people gave $22,811.85!
2013: 142 people gave $16,549
2012: 135 people gave $14,538
2011: 90 people gave $9,145
2010: 87 people gave $8,401
2009: 82 people gave $10,179
2008: 48 people gave $4,800
2007: 91 people gave $11,202
In 2013, United Way funded 50 different programs and partnered with 34 different organizations in Cass & Berrien counties. Some of the ways your 2014 donations will help in our community are: provide mentorships for at-risk students, help low-income families prepare their children for school, provide at-home services to cancer patients, and provide much-needed services to vulnerable senior citizens, to name only a few examples.
A special word of thanks to those employees who served as campus leaders for the campaign, taking the goals and objectives of United Way in a grassroots way throughout campus. In addition to sending out information through group emails, leaders made presentations at various staff meetings, braved the elements to cheer at the campus entrances for the campaign kickoff, participated in the Alumni parade, provided giving incentives in the form of snack carts, and made their offices mini-campaign headquarters festooned with United Way posters and goal devices.
Campus campaign leadership was Alisa Williams, Kristine Knutson, Garth Woodruff, Bruce Wrenn, Carolina Gomez-Jones, Gerilyn Gigante, Beverly Sedlacek, David Sedlacek, Lisa Rollins, Paul Elder, David Iwasa, Rod Church, Sarah Burton, Dalry Payne, Curt VanderWaal, and Rebecca May.
“One of the most compelling experiences of the campaign for me was touring United Way funded agencies with other campus leaders,” according to David Iwasa. “When you see with your own eyes the wonderful community services that United Way supports, it made me realize how they can do so much more with my small donation—it’s the least I can do to help those in need. One of our campus leaders on the same tour gave a touching testimonial how one of the agencies had helped his family fill a need for medical assistance.”
While our campus fund-raising campaign only lasts for a month, there are many ways that employees can support United Way all through the year. If in your current situation you have more time than money to donate, or you’d like to give both time and money, please give consideration to United Way volunteer opportunities. Full details are available at uwsm.org. Some of their best-known volunteer opportunities are:
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Girls on the Run
Reading Day of Action
Day of Action for Seniors
Especially as the winter weather comes to our area, you are also encouraged to keep the United Way 2-1-1 phone line in mind. If you come across individuals who are in need, you may call 2-1-1 to find out what services are available to meet those needs.
