1998 Cornell United Way campaign exceeds its goal; $521,600 is raised

Cornell's campus campaign for United Way of Tompkins County has gone over the top, raising $21,600 more than its $500,000 goal -- thanks to Cornell employees, retirees and students. And more pledge cards are coming in daily, according to Susan H. Murphy, vice president for student and academic services and chair of the United Way campaign on campus.

"Even though the formal campus campaign period has ended," Murphy added, "we're still accepting donations and pledges through the end of December." Pledge cards may be sent directly to 107 Day Hall via campus mail.

So far, the countywide campaign has raised $1,556,349, which is 97 percent of the $1.6 million goal. United Way of Tompkins County will continue to accept donations at its 313 N. Aurora St. office in Ithaca.

"My heartfelt thanks go out to the real heroes of the campaign -- our fellow employees and retirees who understand and appreciate the importance of giving to United Way," Murphy said. "The United Way concept -- one organized way to raise money to support more than 100 local programs -- is a most effective way to meet critical needs in the community."

Murphy noted that donations support programs that encourage health and wellness, support families, build knowledge and skills, promote self-sufficiency, and help those in need throughout Tompkins County. "More than 1,500 of the thousands of our neighbors and friends who benefit from the services of agencies and community councils supported by United Way are Cornell faculty, staff and students," she said.

"I also want to thank members of the campaign cabinet and the many other volunteers across campus who did everything from distributing pledge cards to helping their co-workers understand the needs we face as a community and how each pledge counts," Murphy added.

Vice chair of this year's campus campaign is Mary George Opperman, vice president for human resources; she will direct the campus campaign next year. Thomas LiVigne, manager of real estate at Cornell and a member of the board of directors of United Way of Tompkins County, is the general campaign chair for the 1998 countywide campaign.

LiVigne said the Cornell campus campaign was the first local division to reach its goal. "Cornell's leadership and commitment to United Way is remarkable. As a Cornell employee, I am especially proud of my university colleagues for their generosity and willingness to help make our community a better place to live and work," he said.

The campus campaign cabinet comprises a cross-section of Cornell employees and students. They include: Patty Ard, executive staff assistant for Student and Academic Services; Eric Booth, a student in the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning; Phil Dankert, librarian in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations; Michael Dickinson, university auditor in the Office of the Controller; John McKeown, associate director, Athletics and Physical Education; Catherine Murray-Rust, director of campus delivery for Project 2000; Chandra Nash, office of the Cornell Tradition; Janiece Bacon Oblak, assistant dean of admissions and financial aid and director of the Cornell Tradition; Frederick A. Rogers, senior vice president and chief financial officer; Judy Small, associate director of admissions; Patricia Snopkowski, associate audit director, Office of the Controller; Dennis Stein, employee outreach manager in the Office of Human Resources; David Stewart, director of community relations; Steve Thane, programmer/analyst for University Career Services; Laura Toy, director of college, unit, and project development in Alumni Affairs and Development; and Latarsha Williams, a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Also serving on the campus campaign cabinet is Elizabeth Trapnell Rawlings, who serves on the Tompkins County United Way campaign cabinet in the leadership division.