FRED LEBLANC Rochelle Calhoun: A Legacy of Giving Rochelle Calhoun, associate dean of the College and member of the 2001 United Way Campaign Committee, served for seven years on the board of Girls, Inc., a nonprofit Holyoke organization that offers girls a place to explore their potential through workshops, field trips, recreation, and leadership and mentoring programs. It is one of the 162 human service organizations that receive funds from the United Way of the Pioneer Valley. Although no longer a board member, Calhoun continues to support Girls, Inc. through financial contributions, directing her gifts through Mount Holyoke's United Way campaign. "My father's legacy to me and my siblings was a sense of our responsibility to the communities in which we live," said Calhoun. "He was a member of the Lions Club, the Rotary, the American Cancer Society, and the NAACP-to name just a few organizations. He also served on our town school committee and was active in his church. The idea that we should use our time and financial resources-and he didn't have much of either-to help build strong organizations that would support those in need in our community was a deep family value that he modeled for me throughout his life. Now, when I volunteer my time or make a contribution to an organization, I see this as not just a benefit to myself and my community-but also a tribute to my father's memory."

Mount Holyoke's community campaign for United Way, an annual employee fund drive to support charitable organizations' outreach to local people in need, is now under way. The campaign began October 3 and continues through October 19. It is administered by the United Way of the Pioneer Valley.

Last year, campus participation in the campaign increased by 8 percent, and gifts totaled more than $34,000. President Joanne Creighton is calling for even broader participation in this year's drive toward $35,000. "Because Mount Holyoke is one of the largest employers in the region, the United Way depends on us to be one of the largest employee campaigns," she said.

The United Way of the Pioneer Valley helps fund 162 human service programs through fifty-five local nonprofit agencies. Each year, its local volunteers identify the region's most pressing day-to-day needs, including help for the hungry, senior citizens, the disabled, children, and victims of house fires or domestic violence. At least 86 cents of every dollar contributed goes directly to those programs and services. In South Hadley alone, contributions to the United Way helped more than 2,850 individuals and 273 families last year.

Exceptions this year, due to the attacks of September 11, are the local Red Cross and Salvation Army, which will send contributions made through United Way to disaster relief in the New York area. In addition, the United Way of the Pioneer Valley will join other United Ways around the world in accepting contributions to The September 11 Fund to support those affected by the recent terrorist attacks.

"The College encourages every employee to make a donation to the United Way," said campaign coordinator Stephanie Hull, assistant to the president and secretary of the College. "It is particularly important now. Even as we focus on helping the victims of September 11, we must remember that the local community needs our support as much as ever."

The Mount Holyoke community campaign offers the convenience of giving through payroll deduction and allows employees to designate gifts to any nonprofit organization through United Way's "donor choice" program. If an organization of choice is not included in the campaign materials, employees may write in the recipient's name and address.

Details about giving to this year's campaign were distributed to faculty and staff this week, and an information table is scheduled at Blanchard Campus Center Friday, October 5. For additional information about the campaign, call Stephanie Hull or Irasema Lewis at x2185.