Participating in the annual United Way fall fundraising campaign, the University has collected $119,000 since November, but remains short of its $143,000 goal.
“Wesleyan is a model university when it comes to participation in United Way campaigns,” said Melanie Hathaway, director of Donor and Community Relations at United Way. “I get calls from people across the country asking what is it that we do to receive so many contributions from a university. Really, the donations are just part of the generous culture at Wesleyan.”
This year, the average gift per employee has risen to about $288, while the number of University employees contributing has dropped below 50 percent, compared to 65 percent last year. However, the campaign is not expected to wind down until mid-January.
“We are still expecting contributions from more folks,” said Director of Community Relations Frank Kuan, who has been co-chair of the campaign for the past several years. “I remain cautiously optimistic. However, I would say it will be a stretch to reach the goal.”
Students have not been involved in the fundraiser, possibly because no organizational leadership exists for the campaign on a student level. Students have sometimes participated in the campaign over the years, once becoming part of a pizza fundraiser sponsored by Iliano’s Pizzeria.
“Students have been involved sporadically over the years, but we would need a student in the Wesleyan community to spearhead a campaign among the students,” Hathaway said. “At the moment, there’s no student leadership in the area. Unless students themselves express an interest in heading it, it probably won’t happen. They’re already so busy.”
Along with Middletown, 14 other towns are involved with the United Way partnership. Within these communities, donations to United Way will serve 23 local agencies and 32 human care services, from the Middlesex Girl Scots to the American Red Cross. Other agencies supported include Oddfellows Playhouse, a sexual assault crisis service, and H.O.P.E., a non-profit organization that creates affordable housing in Old Saybrook.
“We have low key but effective approach when it comes to encouraging staff members to donate,” Kuan said. “We have volunteers from each department who work as coordinators, and then serve as a point person for colleagues for the distribution and collection of pledges. For example, this year’s ITS coordinator, Shawn Hill, also made a very concerted personal effort, and was able to add 20 new donors and collect more than $1,400 from the year before.”
Staff members may donate either by deducting a portion of their salary or by writing checks. They are encouraged to donate through raffles, which offer discounts to Broad Street Books and ITS services.
Last year, about 50 employees each contributed over $1,000 dollars to the campaign, earning each of them the distinction of becoming United Way Leadership Givers. Partly because of their participation, Middlesex United boasts the second highest number of donors who give more than $1,000 in the coutnry.
The United Way campaign continues to be a hallmark of campus efforts to extend the University family and support local needs. The University ranks in the top 4 percent nationally among similar institutions for charitable giving.
“We’re fortunate that every year the campus bands together and is involved in the local community in this way,” Kuan said. “I’m always pleasantly surprised every year.”
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