Purdue United Way Campaign kicks off
Al Diaz, Purdue UW chair; Maryann Santos de Barona, Purdue UW vice chair; Chip Rutledge, president, Purdue University Retirees Association; Sue Hiser, vice president, PURA; and Anne Washburn, director, Purdue United Way Campaign. Not pictured: Jay Akridge, community UW chair; Ashley Deutsch and Brad Krites, student chairs. (Purdue photo by Mark Simons)
Purdue's United Way Campaign began Tuesday as guests from the campus and community gathered in Beck Agricultural Center.
About 300 people were present at the event, which was planned to unite the Purdue chairs and team captains with community United Way representatives.
Speakers at the event were:
* Jay Akridge, 2011 local United Way campaign chair and the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue.
* Al Diaz, 2011 Purdue United Way chair and executive vice president for business and finance, treasurer.
"Years of selfless donation, whether in time or money, have made the Purdue community an essential part of the local United Way," Diaz says. "Every contribution will be channeled directly to residents of the community that depend on the United Way's partner agencies for programs that further education, make families stronger and enrich lives."
Maryann Santos de Barona, dean of the College of Education, is vice chair of Purdue's campaign. Student representatives for the campaign are Brad Krites and Ashley Deutsch.
"Growing our Future, Living United" is the theme for this year's campaign. Purdue's goal of $740,000 is a significant percentage of the community's goal of $4.6 million. Already, the Purdue University Retirees Association and campaign vanguards are leading the way. So far the groups have raised $268,798.
Vanguards are those who give at least $1,000, in part to cover the campaign's administrative expenses. All other gifts go 100 percent to serving needs in the community. ?
Team captains soon will distribute pledge cards to employees in all West Lafayette campus departments. Cards can be returned to the team captains or sent via campus mail to Purdue United Way Gift Processing at Dauch Alumni Center (DAUC).
Teams around campus are planning various activities to benefit Purdue’s United Way campaign. Physical Facilities and the College of Education are hosting activities to highlight United Way's Week of Caring, which began Saturday (Sept. 10).
Recreational Sports is also planning "Party in PINK! A Zumba-Yogathon for the United Way." The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 22 on Vawter Field and will feature prizes from Victoria's Secret PINK, a Zumba dance-off and yoga instruction. Admission is $5 and all proceeds go to Purdue's United Way campaign.
For more information on Purdue's United Way campaign, visit www.purdue.edu/unitedway.
