July2, 2007
University surpasses $1.3M United Way goal
A few weeks before launching the 2007 campaign,
President Seligman told those gathered at a leadership breakfast that it
was time for the University to take its support of the United Way to the
highest level ever. That call to action was the first step toward raising
more than $1.3 million this year—a goal met this June, with a final
total of $1,334,774.
By surpassing the $1 million mark, the University
joins a select group of local organizations—Kodak, Xerox,
Wegmans, and Bausch & Lomb—that received the Award of Excellence
during a celebration event on June 22 sponsored by the United Way of
Greater Rochester, which also reached its goal this year of raising more
than $33.5 million.
Peter Carpino, president of the United Way, says these
leadership gifts served as a strong foundation to the campaign.
“There were a number of keys to our success this year,” says
Carpino. “But what’s important to keep in mind is that any size
gift matters. Collectively, when you give through United Way, your gift is
joined with the gifts of others to help people in our community who need it
most.”
University campaign director Andrea Lennon says
supporting the United Way is evidence of the University’s commitment
to the future of the city and community. “Rochester is in our name.
We’re here to stay. If any organization should make a commitment to
the United Way and to supporting this community, it’s us. We benefit
from a stronger, healthier Rochester.”
The 2007 campaign included not only a record-setting
fundraising total, but also marked an increase in leadership gifts (pledges
of $250 or more) and an increase in those taking part in the continuous
pledge program—donations made this way remain in effect from year to
year, without the completion of additional paperwork.
Another notable difference in this year’s
campaign was the leadership structure. For the first time the University
campaign included numerous vice chairs, among them Bradford Berk, senior
vice president for health sciences and Medical Center CEO, and Peter
Lennie, senior vice president and Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the
Faculty of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. Peter Robinson, vice president
and chief operating officer for the Medical Center, and Sue Stewart, vice
president and general counsel, served as vice chairs for leadership giving;
Frederick Jefferson, professor emeritus and University intercessor, served
as vice chair for the retiree campaign; Vicki Hines, president and CEO of
Visiting Nurse Service, served as vice chair for the Visiting Nurse Service
campaign; and Cindy Becker, vice president and chief operating officer of
Highland Hospital, served as vice chair for the Highland Hospital and
affiliates campaign.
President Seligman served as the campaign’s
president and chair.
“Why was this year’s campaign so
successful? I can sum it up in one word: leadership,” says Lennon.
“From the start, there was leadership from President Seligman, but
there also was a strong infrastructure of support from our campaign chairs,
our deans, department chairs, and faculty, and from the incredible
commitment demonstrated by a dedicated group of volunteers. It’s that
person-to-person, colleague-to-colleague contact that has a ripple effect.
The result is a culture of generosity and giving, such as the one seen here
at the University.”
| Next story |
