This year's Faculty and Staff Giving Program has two main goals: to raise more than $400,000 and to increase overall participation. Student scholarships and the improvement of facilities are a priority on campus and have been where most gifts have gone in the past. But giving also can be extended to other campus programs, such as support for needed lab equipment or training and development programs. In addition, 100 percent of all gifts go directly to the program of the donor's choice.
The annual giving program, dubbed "Faculty and Staff Creating Opportunities" this year, kicks off with a breakfast for department representatives and other guests Thursday, Nov. 4, 7:30-9 a.m., Guild Hall, McKenny Union. Instead of the foundation sponsoring breakfast, as it has in the past, participants this year will buy their own breakfast and the Foundation will donate the money back to the University.
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LOOKING FOR SUPPORT: The goal of
this year's Faculty and Staff Giving
Program is to raise more than
$400,000 and increase overall
participation. Money
raised goes
toward student scholarships and
campus facilities improvements.
This
year' s program kicks off Nov. 4. |
"Everyone who works here has an idea of what the needs are relative to where they sit," said Alice Preketes, major gifts fundraiser for the College of Health and Human Services. "People should support what they think is important."
"For me, the campaign is a time to look back and recognize some of the people who help make EMU such a wonderful place to work, and a time to look forward and do my part to make it better," said J. Michael Erwin, director of Career Services.
Last year, the foundation raised more $450,000 from faculty, staff and emeritus faculty contributions, which was directed to 285 different EMU accounts. Donors may contribute to scholarships that are already in place and/or establish their own. All University programs can be supported by a gift. A total of 785 faculty and staff donors were responsible for making that possible, Preketes said.
"At an average of 25 percent participation, the generosity of EMU faculty and staff exceeds national averages for public institutions and is commendable," Preketes said. "At the same time, a number of our counterpart universities have faculty and staff donor participation rates of more than 30 percent. We would like to achieve a similar level of support. This is important because potential students, student parents and external funders are influenced by the extent to which faculty and staff support an institution. They see it as a vote of confidence and a commitment to quality programs."
While late fall is the period to consider making year-end donations for tax benefits, faculty and staff are encouraged to give at any time. Every gift counts toward the campaign total and will be listed in the Faculty and Staff Giving Honor Roll. Donations can be made online at the EMU Foundation's Web site at www.emufoundation.org. Donations can be made by check, credit card or payroll deductions. Further information will be provided in the brochure, which will be mailed the week of Nov. 8.
For questions about the Faculty and Staff Giving Program, call Preketes at 481-2308 or e-mail her at alice.preketes@emich.edu.
