Thanks to the generosity of Washington University’s faculty, staff and retirees, thousands in the St. Louis community will receive hot meals, job training and warm clothes for the winter.
The WUSTL community has raised more than $686,000 in its United Way of Greater St. Louis campaign, surpassing the university’s stated goal of $650,000.
“To all those in the Washington University family who chose to support the United Way this year, thank you,” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton says.
The university community should be proud of this year’s campaign results to this point, but news of the success should not dissuade those who have not yet participated from giving, Wrighton says.
The university continues to accept pledges throughout the year online through HRMS Self Service. Pledge cards also are still available. To request a pledge card, contact Lisa Caress at (314) 935-6087 or caresslisa@wustl.edu.
“Washington University derives great benefit from being in St. Louis,” Wrighton says. “Supporting the United Way of Greater St. Louis is one significant way in which the university community is able to contribute to the St. Louis region and to support those who need assistance from United Way-supported agencies.”
WUSTL’s campaign kicked off Sept. 7 and reached its targeted dollar amount in early November, helping the United Way of Greater St. Louis meet its 2011 goal of raising $71 million.
“Every year, the university community steps up its efforts to support United Way-funded agencies, and 2011 has been no exception,” says Ann Prenatt, vice chancellor for human resources and campaign chair.
“The United Way and the millions of people who are receiving assistance are grateful to the faculty, staff and retirees who opened their hearts and wallets to help others these past few months,” Prenatt says.
“Through our campaign, during a continuing difficult economic time for so many, we will be making a significant contribution to the financial support of agencies that provide vital services and programs.
“I also would like to thank our campaign leaders and volunteers for their hard work and support of this campaign,” Prenatt says.
As the university has reached its goal, winners have been announced for drawings of prizes ranging from a Kindle to a home theatre system. The winners are:
- Xbox 360 4G Kinect bundles: Cynthia Cordes, user support analyst, Physicians Billing, and Marla Davidson, custodian II, School of Medicine;
- Amazon Kindle e-reader: Carol Koboldt, senior research administrator, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, and Barbara Levin, coordinator, Alliance for Building Capacity, Brown School;
- Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet: Abby Hollander, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, School of Medicine; and
- Panasonic 3-D Blu-ray home theater system: Christopher Doyle, senior contract management liaison, Office of Resource Management.
Last year’s WUSTL drive raised $718,600, exceeding the stated goal of $615,000, and helped the United Way of Greater St. Louis raise more than $68 million in 2010.
More than 90 percent of contributions to the United Way of Greater St. Louis — one of the country’s highest assistance rates — go directly to nearly 200 organizations that provide services for people living in 16 Missouri and Illinois counties.
Such services include job counseling and job training, affordable child care, disaster relief, violence prevention and more.
For more information about the United Way, visit stl.unitedway.org.