Mount Holyoke's Community
Campaign, an annual employee fund drive that raises money to help
charitable organizations that, in turn, help local people in need, is
now under way. This year, the campaign began October 8 and continues
through October 29, and will be administered by the Community United
Way of the Pioneer Valley, an organization into which the United Ways
of Holyoke, South Hadley, and Granby have merged. Through its "donor choice"
program, the United Way allows donors to designate contributions for
any nonprofit organization. United Way also provides programs and
services to thousands of local residents through its affiliated
agencies, which help families devastated by house fires or domestic
violence, feed the hungry, give health services to senior citizens,
help those with disabilities, and provide programs for young
children, to name just a few of their activities. The goal of this year's drive
is $30,000. "The United Way is committed to ensuring that your
contributions are used effectively, and more than eighty-eight cents
of every dollar donated goes directly to programs and services," says
campaign coordinator Stephanie Hull, assistant to the president and
secretary of the College. "The College encourages every employee to
'give back' to the community by making a donation; it is not how much
you give that is important, but that all of us participate at a level
with which we feel comfortable. This is a great opportunity to extend
the resources of the MHC community to the world beyond the College's
gates and to make a statement through our contributions about how
much our faculty and staff care about the area where they live and
work." Details about giving to this
year's Community Campaign were distributed to the campus community
last week.
A SOCIAL OBLIGATION TO
MAKE THINGS BETTER
College treasurer Mary Jo
Maydew has been giving to the United Way for more than twenty years.
"I believe that if people have the means to contribute, they have a
social obligation to do so to make things better in this country,"
she says. "I find that the United Way is a very efficient way to
support a wide array of local social service agencies." Maydew often
earmarks a portion of her contribution to organizations ranging from
Holyoke's Care Center to Visiting Nurses, in addition to making a
general contribution. "Beginning to participate is
more important than the level of participation," says Maydew. "I hope
people at Mount Holyoke will think about giving. It is one of the
most effective and flexible ways to help the community." Maydew's
charitable giving does not stop with the United Way. She supports a
variety of educational institutions (including Mount Holyoke) and
social service agencies. It is reassuring to know that the person who
oversees the College's finances knows how to put her personal funds
to such good--and caring-- use!
Community United Way
Facts
- Ninety-nine cents of every
dollar donated stays in the Pioneer Valley.
- More than eighty-eight
cents of every dollar donated goes directly to programs.
- One out of three
individuals will be touched by a United Way program or
service.
- Your contribution helps a
broad-based array of local health and human care agencies and
programs.
- If you choose, you can
select a specific United Way agency you would like to see your
contribution support.
- More than seventy local
volunteers work to monitor your contribution, advise agencies, and
ensure cost-efficient results.
Mary Jo Maydew
WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE
photo by Gabriel Amadeus
Cooney
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