Campaign asks faculty, staff to 'reach out to others'

Burnett

The 2000 Vanderbilt Community Giving Campaign is officially under way, after the last of two kickoff luncheons was held in Branscomb Quadrangle Thursday, Sept. 14. The annual campaign solicits funds from University faculty and staff for area non-profit organizations.

"You are heroes and heroines," Chancellor E. Gordon Gee said to the 120 volunteers who will spearhead fund-raising efforts for departments across campus. "We have to make certain that those who are less fortunate than us are well taken care of."

More than 180 volunteers from the Medical Center participated in a similar kickoff Aug. 23. Combined, more than 300 faculty and staff have volunteered to head departmental efforts in the University.

"The number one reason people don't give is because they were never asked," organizer Steve Cook told the volunteers who are responsible for asking the University's 14,000-plus employees to contribute. "We have an exciting campaign ahead of us. It's something we can all feel good about."

Dr. Lonnie S. Burnett, the Frances and John C. Burch Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology and chairman of the 2000 campaign, said it is important to surpass the amount raised last year.

"We had a participation rate of about 34 percent last year," said Burnett. "That shows us there is tremendous room for growth."

Contributions to the Community Giving Campaign have increased by 47 percent over the past 10 years, from $514,957 in 1990 to $756,723 in 1999.

Last year's campaign was chaired by Dr. Lee E. Limbird, associate vice chancellor for health affairs for research and chair of the Department of Pharmacology.

Organizers said this year's goal is to raise $760,000 by Oct. 31. "Reaching out to others," is the 2000 Community Giving Campaign's slogan.

Included in the campaign are three participating federations: Community Health Charities of Tennessee, Community Shares and United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. Each of these organizations represents scores of local and national non-profit entities. Money contributed, which can be deducted from the paychecks of University faculty and staff, may be designated to one or more of these federations, or to any of the agencies or organizations that they represent.

Payroll deductions for pledges made to the 2000 campaign will go into effect Jan. 1, 2001. Pledges made to the 1999 campaign will expire Dec. 31, 2000.