This year's Faculty and Staff Giving Program not only met its goal of $400,000 for the campaign, but exceeded it. The foundation raised a total of $432,954, which was donated by 734 members of Eastern Michigan University's faculty, staff and emeritus faculty.
"One of the most gratifying and surprising things from the Faculty and Staff Giving Program was going over the fund goal when it was such a difficult year for so many employees," said Mike Erwin, director of career services and co-chair of the giving program. "It was nice to see that people gave anyway, knowing that several budget cuts would be occurring."
The gifts were directed toward 285 different accounts including WEMU, accounts for departments and programs, scholarships and the Partnership for Excellence, the fund that addresses greatest needs. Other special interest areas that also received support included Friends of Chamber Music, Summer Quest Initiatives, the Athletic Hall of Fame and Sherzer Observatory.
Several departments used the Faculty and Staff Giving Program to start initiatives important to them. Last year, ICT initiated an ICT Student Employee Scholarship and numerous departments started emergency funds for students' textbooks, supplies and emergency needs.
The Faculty and Staff Giving Program is part of the non-profit EMU Foundation, which collects the money and distributes the funds throughout the University. For more questions about the program, contact Pamela Wright at (734) 481-2308.
