2020 Purdue United Way Campaign climbing toward goal; virtual fundraising events set

The 2020 Purdue United Way Campaign has raised $371,035 toward its goal of $732,485 as of today (Oct. 14). The campus community is invited to participate in two fundraising events -- an online auction and the Purdue History of Horror virtual tour.

Campuswide online auction

An online auction, including items such as gift cards, Purdue gear, Purdue memorabilia and more, will be held through 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Participants with winning bids will receive a notification after the close of the auction. Items may be picked up from Rita Neidlinger and Ashley Luzadder in Beering Hall, Room 6114. Payment is due at the time of pickup, and cash or check (made out to United Way of Greater Lafayette) will be accepted. Individuals picking up auction items should follow Protect Purdue measures. For more information, contact Luzadder at 765-494-2341 or aluzadde@purdue.edu.

Purdue History of Horror virtual tour

The Purdue History of Horror virtual tour, sponsored by Purdue Student Life, will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight ET Oct. 29-31. Registration for each day’s tour will close at 7 p.m., and tickets are $10 per person. The virtual tour will last approximately 35 minutes. This recorded tour of campus will highlight true events from Purdue’s rich historical past. The tour’s "Horror Host" will act as the guide, and six "Tellers of Tales" will share stories from 1891 through 1947. Although the tour is generally family-friendly, some content may be frightening for very young children. Viewing instructions will be provided in the registration confirmation email. Contact unitedway@purdue.edu with any questions.

 “After sharing the History of Horror walking tour with campus and community members over the last four years, we are excited to introduce a virtual version," says Kathy Dietz, director of artist relations and operations for Purdue Convocations, who has been involved in the tour's creative process since its debut. "Through video we are able to include archive images from each event, as well as set the mood with music, for a fully immersive experience.”

Making a donation

Donations to the Purdue United Way Campaign may be made through the ePledge online pledge system; a link to donate is available on the Purdue United Way website. Donors can donate an unrestricted gift to the United Way of Greater Lafayette or can choose a specific UWGL agency for their donations. Gifts can be made through payroll deduction or as a one-time donation. For credit card transactions, the United Way of Greater Lafayette contracts with CyberSource, a trusted name in e-commerce meeting industry security standards

For every new gift or gift increase of $100 or more, the Lilly Endowment Inc. will give a dollar-for-dollar matching gift.

The Purdue campaign ends on Nov. 11. More information about the campaign can be found on the Purdue United Way website. Questions about the campaign can be directed to Megan Eberly, director of Purdue United Way, at unitedway@purdue.edu or 317-695-5740.

Writer: Makenna Fitzgerald, fitzge39@purdue.edu