Inside Furman is published monthly during the school year by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
United Way campaign shatters goal
With the end of Furman's United Way campaign just weeks away and the university having shattered its goal, you would think campaign coordinator Michelle Shain would take a break and savor the success.
Not so. There is another raffle drawing November 11. And a few weeks of fundraising remaining.
“We still have some time, so there is still time to turn in your pledge card!” she says seriously before breaking out in a grin. “But the success we've had so far has been tremendous.”
As of mid-October, 42 percent of Furman employees had contributed nearly $67,000 to the United Way of Greenville County, up from 28 percent and $46,718 last year.
Shain, President David Shi and a 22-member campus campaign committee kicked off the campaign September 12 with a goal of $50,000 and 40 percent employee participation.
Some Highlights of the campaign thus far:
• Of those departments with five or more employees, Development and Financial Aid achieved a 100 participation rate.
• Divisions with the greatest participation have been Development (100 percent), Enrollment (83 percent) and Marketing and Public Relations, which includes Computing and Information Services, the Chaplain's Office and Personnel, (70 percent).
• Among academic departments, Psychology, Music, History and Education have achieved a 50 percent or greater participation rate.
To increase fundraising, Shain, community relations director, and volunteers have sold raffle tickets and organized a jail-a-thon. Four footballs signed by members of the Atlanta Falcons football team were also auctioned at Furman football games with proceeds being donated to the United Way.
The United Way of Greenville County, which supports approximately 40 health and human service organizations, has a campaign goal of $12.1 million for 2003.
Last year, the non-profit agency raised more than $11.5 million for area charities. For more information about United Way services, including information about how employees can take advantage of programs such as after-school childcare and student tutoring, visit the Furman United Way Web page at www.unitedwaygc.org .