University employees taking part in a state employee fundraiser donated close to a quarter of a million dollars in an annual drive to assist Oregon charities.
The 2011 Employees’ Charitable Fund Drive raised $890,741 from 2,772 donors in the state workforce and the Oregon University System, according to drive chairman Fred Lord. University employees raised $236,318 overall, being the largest contributor to the fund. These donations came from 763 different employees.@@http://uonews.uoregon.edu/archive/news-release/2012/3/o-e-clips-highlights-media-coverage-involving-uo-and-its-faculty-and-s-1@@
“The University does a marvelous job. They always donate better than the other universities within the system,” Lord said. “This is due to the people in the University.”
In 2011, 14 percent of University employees donated as opposed to 4 percent of Oregon State University employees. Other schools also average in the 3 to 4 percent range, according to Lord.
“The University has a good strong campaign structure in place. They have coordinators in every department, have leadership support for campaigns, messages going out about the campaign,” said Deb Furry, campaign manager for the Charitable Fund Drive. “They have a strong history of support for campaign. Other universities don’t have that deep campaign structure.”@@http://ecfd.oregon.gov/GCFS/contact_us.shtml@@
Donors are allowed to direct the funds to the charity of their choice. The main beneficiary this year was United Way of Lane County, which received $175,676. United Way then distributes the funds among the charities that the donors specify.@@http://www.unitedwaylane.org/@@
“The majority of it goes to Food for Lane County, St. Vincent de Paul and Shelter Care. Basically they are looking for food, shelter and helping the homeless,” said Ed Baker, spokesman for United Way for Lane County.@@http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ed-baker/4/144/416@@
The Charitable Fund Drive raised slightly less money than last year, which Furry attributes to the uncertain economic times.
“I think the continuing tough economic climate affects donations. And state agencies are continuing to have furloughs and many employees are now paying a portion of their health benefits,” Furry said.
Oregon state employees raise money for charities
Daily Emerald
March 11, 2012
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