Robbins Challenges UA Employees to Raise $500K During UA Cares Campaign
Another fall season brings another UA Cares giving campaign. What makes this year different is the fundraising goal set by President Robert C. Robbins: $500,000.
The annual campaign got kicked off on Tuesday with a morning event to rally attendees and inspire them to give to a host of local and campus causes. Many organizations staffed booths at the event, including Casa de los Niños [1], Handi-Dogs [2], the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southern Arizona [3] and the UA Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center [4].
During the kickoff, Robbins, the campaign's honorary chair, issued a call to action for UA employees to raise $500,000.
"It's so important to help those less fortunate than we are," he said. "I think we can really take this opportunity to get excited and talk about this giving campaign because it does help so many people."
If the challenge is met, it would be a significant boost from the $372,000 employees raised last year. UA employees also volunteered about 2,000 hours with efforts like feeding the homeless and service members at Thanksgiving, and building homes with Habitat for Humanity.
Since 2002, UA employees have donated $4.6 million through the UA Cares drive.
Perhaps the easiest way for employees to give is through payroll deduction, which can be set up in UAccess. That option will be available until the campaign ends on Dec. 15.
For employees who would like to volunteer their time, several opportunities will be offered throughout the campaign. An updated list can be found on the UA Cares website [5] as events are scheduled.
Here is a list of events that already are scheduled:
Pumpkin-Crafting Contest | Oct. 26
The Office of the Provost is hosting a pumpkin-crafting contest to support United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona [6]. Participants who supply their own pumpkins can enter for $5, and those who need pumpkins can enter for $10. The deadline to submit your pumpkin is Oct. 24. Judging will take place Oct. 26, when the pumpkins will be displayed in the Administration building's Regents Room, Room 705. The office is also taking donations. Click here [7] to see photos from last year's contest.
Chorizo Breakfast and Drawing | Oct. 27, 8-10 a.m.
For the 18th year in a row, the Budget Office will hold its chorizo breakfast in Administration, Room 101G. Breakfast costs $5 a plate. All proceeds will go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southern Arizona. Anyone with questions can call Cindy McHenry at 520-621-1634.
Food Drive | Now through Nov. 14
The College of Science Staff Advisory Council is hosting a food drive to support the Campus Pantry [8]. Donations, including cash, can be left at drop-off points in any College of Science department. The pantry has asked for items such as cereal, beans, pasta or Rice-A-Roni, pasta sauce, hearty soups, peanut butter, canned fruit, protein or granola bars, canned meats and hygiene products.
Root Beer Float Fundraiser | Nov. 15, 2-4 p.m.
The Division of Human Resources will offer root beer floats in the lobby of the University Services Building. All proceeds will go to Ben's Bells [9].
Book Drive | Now through Nov. 30
The Office of the Secretary of the University [10] is collecting books for local nonprofit Literacy Connects [11]. Books can be delivered to the office, on the second floor of Old Main, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ask for Jennise Taylor.
Do you have a UA Cares event you'd like to share? Tell us about it by sending a note to uaatwork@email.arizona.edu [12].