October 9, 2009
Special events raising funds for Purdue United Way Campaign
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Support for Purdue's United Way Campaign comes in many forms, including individual pledges, volunteers' time and special events across campus.
In the School of Engineering Education, graduate student Michele Strutz has committed to making a donation for each of the school's United Way cards that is returned with a zero pledge.
"In the past, an inability to make a pledge has been the biggest reason envelopes were not returned," says Bob Davis, UW senior chair for the College of Engineering and assistant head of the School of Engineering Education. "Michele's pledge changes all that!"
Campaign volunteers do not see whether a returned pledge form contains a dollar figure or a zero. As pledge envelopes from the school are sent to Dauch Alumni Center for processing, the school's UW team captain will be notified how many envelopes qualify for a pledge from Strutz.
"I believe in a community that supports its members, and I hope that my pledge will spur participation to 100 percent," Strutz says. "Every pledge, small or large, can make a difference in the life of another.
"I would be pleased to see the other schools and departments come forward with their own personal commitment, such as pledging a quarter or a dollar for every envelope that gets returned empty in their small work group. Achieving 100 percent participation just takes a small commitment. Purdue colleagues, we are up for this challenge!"
Other special activities and events include:
* Faculty and staff can support Purdue football and Purdue United Way. Gold Strike T-shirts, tied to the Purdue vs. Ohio State football game on Oct. 17, are for sale at Purdue Pride, Follett's Bookstores, University Book Store, Purdue Shop, University Spirit and the Purdue Student Government office in the Stewart Center. Sales also will be handled online through the stores' Web sites. For each $10 Gold Strike T-shirt sold, $2 goes to the United Way.
* Team captains within Discovery Park joined together for a bake sale in September, and will hold a white elephant sale and bake sale on Oct. 27. In addition, the volunteers are raising funds through a drawing for donated restaurant gift cards on Oct. 30. Discovery Park staff who return a pledge card or who make a donation at the bake sale or white elephant sale receive a ticket for the drawing.
* Purdue University Continuing Education and Conferences (CEC) is distributing used books, CDs, and DVDs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 16 in Room 107, Stewart Center. Those who stop by are asked to make a donation to United Way in exchange for the items. The event is open to everyone, and all donations go to the United Way.
In addition, CEC departments are engaged in a penny wars competition to boost contributions to the campaign. The winning department will earn a dress-down day and pizza party.
* United Way team captains across the College of Engineering will hold an Atrium White Elephant Sale and Silent Auction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday in the atrium of Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering. A basketball autographed by men's basketball head coach Matt Painter and a football autographed by football head coach Danny Hope will be on the silent auction. The event is open to everyone, and all proceeds will benefit the United Way.
* The College of Technology raised more than $1,200 in two weeks by holding its own penny wars. The college is challenging other colleges and schools to beat this total.
* Tarkington Hall held its third annual United Way Silent Auction on Thursday.
* Purdue's United Way student chairs are sponsoring an online auction to benefit the campaign. The auction is open through Nov. 7 at https://www.cmarket.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?auctionId=87346088.
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 Sept. 15 and distributed 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 2009 United Way poster, which features Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering and a bronze sculpture of Armstrong.
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.
Lilly Endowment to match new, increased giving
New gifts and increased gifts to United Way will be matched this year by Lilly Endowment.
For example, if you gave $100 last year and pledge $150 this year, Lilly will pitch in the amount of the increase, which is $50.
Any new gift will be matched fully by Lilly.