CU's United Way campaign is off to a great start toward $600,000 goal

Members of the Tompkins County United Way cabinet pose on the hill by the A.D. White House with the signs that will chart this year's campaign progress. Cornell's goal for this year's campaign is $600,000. Robert Barker/University Photography

By Susan Lang

"We are off to an incredibly strong start in meeting our monetary goal, but far from meeting our participation goal," says Charles Walcott, dean of university faculty and chair of the 2004 Cornell United Way campaign.

To date, campus supporters have donated $359,484 toward the annual campus United Way campaign. The participation rate to date is 9 percent, and donations pledged so far represent 60 percent of Cornell's goal of $600,000, which is significantly ahead of last year's third week, which realized 55 percent of last year's goal. Contributions to Cornell's campus campaign account for one-third of the $1.8 million countywide goal set by United Way of Tompkins County.

"The United Way is a way for successful people to turn their success into significance," said Walcott. He stressed that the United Way tax-deductible donations support more than 100 health and human service programs throughout Tompkins County. "Last year, 16 percent of the Cornell staff and faculty contributed to United Way. This year, we need to enlist the support of more of our colleagues. We hope to get 25 percent of faculty and staff to participate. What a difference even relatively small amounts can make -- even 50 cents a week can make a real difference. After all, many small amounts can add up to one grand total!"

Year-round, United Way supports programs that not only help individuals in our community but benefit the community at large. These are just a few of the many programs that depend on United Way support:

• Food programs for the needy (American Red Cross and the Salvation Army of Tompkins County);
• Counseling services for battered women (the Advocacy Center);
• Recreation programs for youth (GIAC and Community Council programs);
• Literacy programs for youth and adults (Literacy Volunteers);
• Transportation services for the elderly and disabled (Gadabout);
• Emergency disaster services (American Red Cross and Salvation Army);
• Mental health referrals and advocacy (Mental Health Association);
• Day care programs (Drop-In Children's Center and Day Care and Child Development Council);
• Legal services for those below the poverty level (Neighborhood Legal Services);
• Housing solutions for low-income and homeless populations (Better Housing of Tompkins County and the American Red Cross, Tompkins County Chapter);
• 24 Crisis Line (Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service of Tompkins County).

United Way pledges can be paid through payroll deduction or with a check or credit card. If your pledge card has been misplaced, new ones can be obtained at Tompkins County United Way Web site at http://www.uwtc.org or at Cornell's updated United Way Web site, http://sws.cornell.edu/cuw/, where you also can donate online.