The Tompkins County United Way campaign goal is $1.8 million. The Cornell United Way campaign goals are $560,000 and 20 percent participation.
Why should you give to the United Way? Cornell has a long tradition of being a significant portion of the Tompkins County United Way campaign.
"We plan to build on that community tradition and expand participation this year," said Carolyn Ainslie, the chair of this year's Cornell United Way campaign, who pointed out that Cornellians only have a 17 percent participation rate in the campaign. "We realize that Cornellians contribute to the community in many ways, but the importance of United Way in providing community resources during a time of reduced state and federal support is vital to the service agencies in our region."
Richie Moran is Cornell's legendary former lacrosse coach and a former associate director of athletics for alumni affairs and development. He serves on the boards of Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County and the Franziska Racker Centers.
"If our county has the intention of keeping all of the programs that provide services and assistance to our community, it is essential for us to have an organization that will distribute the necessary funding to make our community programs successful. ... I've always had a strong interest in charitable organizations. When I retired, I wanted to commit a lot more time and enthusiasm to such efforts. I've found it extremely rewarding, and I've seen great results."
Barry Strom, senior lecturer in the Law School and staff attorney with the Legal Aid Clinic, has served on the board of directors for Neighborhood Legal Services for 21 years.
"I'm involved with Neighborhood Legal Services because it provides representation for indigent people in four counties. I think it's important that all people have access to justice in the legal system. The staff of the Neighborhood Legal Services are all people who are highly dedicated to providing justice to indigent people. Many of them are attorneys who could be making more money at other jobs. They are highly dedicated to what they do. I appreciate their dedication and hope I can support their efforts. A number of them are former students.
"The funding that United Way provides is targeted to Tompkins County and allows our regional office of Neighborhood Legal Services to represent people who would otherwise go unrepresented."
Loretta Carrillo, a senior lecturer in Romance studies, is the new president of the Freeville/Etna Community Council, which is working to develop and implement plans for community programs and events to build upon and enhance a strong sense of community.
"Giving to the United Way is the best way to feel as though you are making a difference at the local level. It's good to know you can designate funds to go directly to your community. Without funds from United Way, we could not maintain our Freeville Summer Recreation program or make plans for communitywide social events."
Georgia Howe, an extension associate in the College of Human Ecology, has been on the board of directors of the Alcohol and Drug Council of Tompkins County for four years, is a past president of the board and currently is chair of its strategic planning committee.
"I believe it is important to give to the United Way because the results directly impact our life locally in Tompkins County. Having served on the boards of many United Way agencies over the past 20 years, I know that they have received funding from New York state as well as from grants and donations. The state money tends to focus on those areas of critical need. At the Alcoholism and Drug Council this focus is on treatment for those in recovery. There is not sufficient state funding for the proactive services that serve the families of those in recovery or the drug-free workplace programs or the prevention programs to help our youth avoid needing treatment in the future. In these areas, United Way gifts support the whole community, helping it to become a healthy and safe place to live and work."
Ben Nichols, professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering, has been on the board of directors of the Drop-In Children's Center since he left office as city of Ithaca mayor in 1996.
"I think the Drop-In Center is one of the best community -- and multicultural -- organizations we have in the county. It serves the needs of people who couldn't afford quality child care otherwise. In fact, I consider helping the Drop-In Center get the land for their new site as one of the greatest accomplishments of my time in office.
"We could not meet our obligations without the United Way. While we still have great difficulty meeting all the needs, without United Way assistance we couldn't do it at all."
Fred Antil, a retired staff member of the School of Hotel Administration, is the board president of the Tompkins County Senior Citizens' Council. He also is co-host of "Senior Time," the longest running radio show in central New York (broadcast every Sunday at 8:15 a.m. on WHCU).
"Our target population, the over 55-year-old Tompkins County resident, is the fastest growing segment of our population, and yet in many ways the poorest served. Some of our peers are undergoing physical, emotional, financial and social challenges, which at times seem overwhelming. As Bette Davis so insightfully said, 'Old age is no place for sissies.' She was right, and the Senior Citizens' Council helps in many ways.
"I've heard it said that while most of us can't name the five wealthiest people in the world, the last winner of an Oscar, the latest Miss Universe or the winning quarterback of the Super Bowl, we all remember a teacher, a mentor, a friend who made a difference in our lives. United Way allows us to join with others in our community in making a difference for many people. Thanks to a united effort, each of us can make a difference, a big difference."
Audrey Cooper, an extension community educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, serves on the board of directors of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC).
"We serve people from all walks of life and everyone is welcome -- that's not just something you say; it's the reality of what we do every day at GIAC.
"To me, it's important to give to the United Way because giving to the United Way is an opportunity for each individual within a total community to help take care of others within that community. When I talk community, I don't mean just a small area; I'm talking about the large community. Whether you give to GIAC or another member organization, you are doing your part to make this a better community, and every dollar helps."
Cindy Noble, professor emerita of policy analysis and management and director of cooperative extension emerita, has been on the board of directors (and board president for the past two years) of the Day Care and Child Development Council since 1995, soon after she retired from Cornell.
"When I retired I decided to volunteer and I had two criteria: first, that I felt passionately about the issue and, secondly, that I work with an executive director whom I respected and admired. The Day Care Council fulfills both of these criteria; they serve an important role in our community.
"Why is giving to the United Way important? United Way knows the community because they have quality volunteers who work with them. Because we have an organization that has made it their business to know the total community, we can be secure as donors that our money is being well spent."
Julie Graham, an administrator in the Department of Near Eastern Studies, is the treasurer of the McLean Community Council as well as actively involved in the committee that organizes the Family Reading Nights that the community council holds four times a year.
"Giving to the United Way is important because the money is used to help many people in many different ways. The money stays within the community, and by designating contributions to specific organizations or communities you are helping the people you want to help. United Way funding is important to the McLean Community Council because it helps us maintain our community hall and helps with summer programs for our area youth. United Way has also provided us with information about grants that are available and assistance with creating our own summer program."
Andrea Mooney, a lecturer in the Law School, is a member of the board of directors of the Task Force for Battered Women.
"In my former life as a law guardian representing children in Family Court, I dealt every day with the realities of domestic violence and child abuse. These problems permeate the lives of many children in our community and affect their ability to attend school, participate in the community and just have regular childhoods. I worked closely with the staff of the task force and particularly with the staff of their Child Sexual Abuse Project. I was, and continue to be, impressed with the staff's dedication and their willingness to do a hard job for long hours and little pay. This is clearly an agency in which every single staff member, intern and volunteer understands and embraces the mission. No one ever forgets why they are there and whom they serve. This inspires me to work hard to support their work and enable them to do it under the best possible conditions.
"Like many human service agencies, the Task Force for Battered Women functions on a tight budget. The money the agency has is used for client services. Because it's a local entity, donors can be assured that their money is not going to be wasted or used for frivolous matters. United Way funding is a large part of our agency's budget and enables us to meet the needs of families and children in Tompkins County who might otherwise be in grave danger. Domestic violence and child abuse are, quite literally, life and death matters.
Fred DeBruyn is the director of aquatics in Teagle Hall. He has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross, Tompkins County chapter, for 30 years, serving as an instructor trainer for water safety, life guarding, CPR and first aid.
"I feel giving to the United Way is a way to give back to the community and to help the community. United Way helps to support programs that I volunteer for and its funding is an important piece in keeping our programs operational."
Ann Martin is the associate dean of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations and director of the ILR Labor Relations Extension Division. For years she was a volunteer mediator and trainer for the Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC) and now serves on the organization's board.
"I believe mediation can improve the lives of people in conflict. I think it's very important for us to have available in the community free access to a respectful process for solving conflict. The work CDRC does on a local level contributes in a small but significant way to a societal understanding that it is possible for people in conflict to engage in productive dialogue about their differences. I believe that each time we engage in such a dialogue, we increase the probability that the world will become a better place.
"The United Way funding supports this work so that it is free and accessible. United Way support for this work is important because it makes a community statement about the value of dispute resolution in a fractious society."
 | |
Carolyn Ainslie, Cornell vice president for planning and budget and chair of this year's Cornell United Way campaign, addresses a gathering of Cornell staff members who volunteer for the United Way. This year's campaign kickoff was Sept. 26 at the Johnson Museum. Robert Barker/University Photography | |
 | |
| Cornell staff volunteers for the United Way formed a "UW" on the Arts Quad during the campaign kickoff event in 1999. Robert Barker/University Photography | |
Karen Brown, office manager for the Campus Life
Management Office, helps put a coat of paint on a wall of the Family and Children's Services office on Seneca Street during last year's
Day of Caring -- an annual event in which Cornell faculty and staff
donate a day of work at local United Way member agencies. Charles Harrington/University Photography | |
 |
A volunteer proudly displays a Day of Caring T-shirt passed out for last year's event. Charles Harrington/University Photography |
 Each year the United Way campaign thermometer is displayed on the corner
of Tower Road and University Avenue, in front of the A.D. White House. Nicola Kountoupes/University Photography | |
Andrea Longmire, a project coordinator for Campus Life, updates training
binders at the Community Dispute Resolution Center during last year's Day of Caring. Charles Harrington/University Photography | |
| Cornell Chronicle Front Page | | Table of Contents | | Cornell News Service Home Page |