Purdue United Way Campaign kicks off
The 2010 Purdue United Way Campaign leaders include (from left) Chris Johannsen, Purdue University Retirees Association president; Al Diaz, vice chair; Christine Ladisch, chair; Jay Akridge, local United Way campaign first vice chair; and Anne Washburn, Purdue UW director. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons)
Purdue's United Way Campaign began Tuesday in the North Ballroom of Purdue Memorial Union, where guests from campus and the community gathered for the kickoff.
A joint event was planned for purposes of uniting the Purdue chairs and team captains with the community United Way representatives. About 300 people were present at the event.
Speakers at the event were:
* Bill Olds, 2010 local United Way campaign second vice chair and senior vice president of Lafayette Life Insurance Co.
* Cindy Murray, 2010 local United Way campaign chair and Lafayette city clerk.
* Jay Akridge, 2010 local United Way campaign first vice chair and the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue.
* Purdue president France A. Córdova.
* Chris Ladisch, 2010 Purdue United Way Campaign chair and dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences.
"The Purdue community has been very generous to United Way," Ladisch said. "Their continued support this year means even more as the number of individuals and families supported by UW agencies also continues to grow. Every contribution, big or small, will make a difference in someone's life."
Al Diaz, executive vice president for business and finance, treasurer, is vice chair of Purdue's campaign. Students representatives for the campaign are Taylor Jenkins, Gus Theofanis, Mike Baumgartner and Katie Haller.
The Purdue United Way goal of $735,000 is a significant part of the $4.5 million community goal.
Already, Purdue Vanguards and the Purdue University Retirees Association are leading the way for the Purdue United Way Campaign. So far the groups have raised $281,443.
Vanguard givers 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.
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).
Contributions go to the 23 Lafayette-West Lafayette service agencies supported by the United Way of Greater Lafayette. Faculty and staff can choose to designate their gifts for other area United Ways.
Lilly Endowment will match new gifts and increased gifts to United Way this year. For example, if an employee gave $100 last year and pledges $150 this year, Lilly will pitch in the amount of the increase, which is $50. Any new gift will be matched fully by Lilly.
More information about how to donate is at www.purdue.edu/unitedway.
How to give to the campaign
Participating in the Purdue United Way Campaign through pledging is a simple and private matter set up as follows:
1. For purposes of the UW campaign, Purdue has 18 areas, each with volunteers serving as senior chair, junior chair or team captain. Those volunteers picked up pledge packets at the kickoff on Tuesday and will begin distributing them to employees in their area.
2. Each employee considers a gift. Things to consider are stories of those helped by United Way agencies, the value of being involved, the nationally outstanding frugality of the local UW and its campaign, the benefit of each dollar given.
The pledge process is constructed to ensure privacy and an absence of coercion. Campaign volunteers do not see whether a returned pledge form contains a dollar figure or a zero.
3. Those who return a pledge form can pick up a 2010 United Way poster.
4. Those making a pledge decide on method — payroll deduction; one-time direct payment; or quarterly, monthly or one-time billing.
5. Employees should put pledge forms into the provided envelopes before sending them in through campus mail or giving them to the team captain for forwarding.
