CU's United Way gifts are higher but participation is lower than many colleges

Now five weeks along, the Cornell 2004 United Way campaign has met 77 percent of its goal, compared with 71 percent in 2003 and 68 percent in 2002.

"Where we are in the campaign is terrific toward meeting our goal of $600,000," said Charles Walcott, dean of the university faculty and chair of this year's Cornell campaign. "Unfortunately, however, 12 percent of the Cornell community so far is doing all of the contributing."

Last year, 16 percent of the Cornell faculty and staff contributed to the campaign, which met its goal in week 11; the average gift was $289. This year, the Cornell United Way cabinet set the goal for participation at 25 percent, stressing that even a dollar a paycheck can make a difference.

"Contributions of even a few dollars may provide a meal, keep essential phone lines operating or in other ways to help a person or family in need," said Walcott. "Gifts of whatever size make a real difference."

To date the highest participation rate at Cornell is from Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, with its 42 percent participation rate; runner-ups are the Division of Financial Affairs with a 40 percent participation rate and Office of Human Resources with a 31 percent participation rate.

Nationally, Cornell ranks 55th out of 520 colleges and universities in average size of gift, according to a report from the United Way of America. In rate of participation, however, Cornell ranks 329th.

When compared with other universities of similar size, Cornell is exceeded in its participation rate by many schools, but not its average gift. While 33 percent of faculty and staff at the University of Florida contributed last year, for example, their average gift was $197; 32 percent participated at Vanderbilt University, where $186 was the average gift; and 24 percent participated at the University of Kentucky, with an average gift of $125.

Of the four Ivy League schools for which statistics are available, Cornell ranked lowest in participation rate; at Yale 56 percent contributed, with an average $495 gift; at Dartmouth, 31 percent participated, with an average $218 gift and 24 percent at Princeton participated, with an average gift of $134.

"The Ithaca and the Cornell communities are extraordinarily generous," says Walcott. "Whenever a family loses a home to fire or suffers other misfortune, there is a tremendous outpouring of help and support from the community. Surely we can do the same for all the community agencies by contributing to the United Way. We can't end up at the bottom of the Ivy League!"