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University
Of Virginia Employees Contribute January 15, 2002-- Despite feeling the effects of state budget cutbacks, University of Virginia employees have recently contributed more than a half-million dollars to help others. To date, U.Va. employees have given $555,527 through the 2002 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, a charity fund drive held each fall for state employees. Tentative figures for the 2002 campaign released by the Virginia CVC Office in early January show that U.Va. employees led the state in giving. Nearly 18 percent of the $3,071,011 raised statewide during the campaign was contributed by U.Va. employees. “I’ve long believed that the University of Virginia’s strength lies in the exceptional quality of faculty and staff. Not only are they a dedicated and accomplished group of individuals, but an extremely caring group as well,” President John T. Casteen III said about the 2002 CVC total at U.Va. State employees had the option of earmarking their gifts, choosing from a list of more than 1,000 non-profit agencies in the areas of health and human services, medical research, environmental concerns and animal welfare. “We were anticipating a 20-to-30 percent drop in contributions for this year’s campaign because of several factors,” said Janet Brooking, state campaign director for the CVC. “With the turmoil associated with this year’s state budget crisis and questions about the stewardship of national charities, U.Va.’s record-breaking contributions show sincere support for the organizations supported by the CVC.” U.Va. has been the No. 1 entity in CVC giving for the last 10 years, said Dana Rivera, the University’s CVC administrator. “In a year in which local economic woes and state budget cuts dominated the headlines, U.Va. employees have demonstrated their concern and commitment to the community with record highs in both community service participation and workplace giving,” she said. The state CVC office has announced that U.Va will receive a Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign Gold Award, which is given to agencies with 6,000 or more employees that achieve at least a 30 percent participation rate with an average gift of $125 or more. This is the third time the University has received this award. “The award recognizes employees’ generosity and concern for the community,” said Ida Lee Wootten, interim director of community relations and chair of the University’s 2002 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign. She will accept the award during a ceremony in Richmond in February. Contacts: Dana Rivera, (434) 924-1321 or Ida Lee Wootten, (434) 924-7695 |
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FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact the Office
of University Relations at (434) 924-7116. Television reporters
should contact the TV News Office at (434) 924-7550. |
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