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U.Va.
Employees Give Generously To Help Community January 29, 2004 -- Hundreds of University of Virginia employees participated in two large-scale volunteer efforts, ending in record-breaking results, U.Va. officials announced today at a “Celebration of Community Spirit” event in Newcomb Hall Ballroom. The event recognized many of the 670 employees who led volunteer efforts associated with the 2003 United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring and the 2003 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, an annual workplace-giving program. Through the efforts of these volunteers, approximately 3,200 U.Va. employees contributed a total of $595,236 to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC). Their dollars were designated for more than 400 charities locally as well as throughout the nation. The total was significantly more than the $565,000 raised during the 2002 campaign. “Over a quarter of all salaried employees contributed to the campaign,” said Ida Lee Wootten, director of community relations and campaign chair. She recognized the volunteers at the reception as a primary reason for the notable participation rate. This is the 11th consecutive year U.Va. has led the state in giving through the CVC, which enables state employees to support more than 1,000 charities. Employees statewide gave more than $3.2 million to charities through the 2003 campaign. “Support for the campaign at U.Va. is remarkable,” said Janet Brooking, state campaign manager. “U.Va. is the backbone of the campaign, with its employees providing over one-fifth of all monies donated.” On a similarly successful note, during the September United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring, a community-service effort started by the local nonprofit organization in 1992, nearly 400 employees completed 47 volunteer projects ranging from deck repair, painting and landscaping to reading to children, organizing parties for senior citizens and sprucing up schools. The number of participants in the community service day increased by 33 percent over the 258 volunteers who participated the previous year. Their efforts correspond to 1,705 volunteer labor hours valued at more than $27,000, according to Dana Rivera in U.Va.'s Community Relations Office who organizes the University’s participation in both the volunteer day and the CVC. “It is obvious from these numbers that many U.Va. employees care deeply about the community and demonstrate that concern by giving generously through both the Day of Caring and the CVC,” Rivera said. “For the last three years employees have given more than a half-million dollars through the campaign, the majority of funds designated for local nonprofit organizations.” The reception, organized by U.Va.’s Community Relations Office, recognized several employees and units that led volunteer efforts in both the community-service day and the campaign. “Employees representing nearly every area of the University joined together in record numbers to help those in need,” Rivera said. Contact: Dana Rivera, (434) 924-1321 |
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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. 2002
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