United Way Campaign Halfway to 2008 Goals
At the Leadership Luncheon in
Levering Hall, WJZ-TV anchor Denise Koch urges Johns
Hopkins senior staff to contribute to United Way of Central
Maryland.
Photo by Matthew D'Agostino
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By John Black Faculty, Staff and Retiree
Programs
Four weeks since it kicked off, the 2008 Johns Hopkins
University campaign for United Way of
Central Maryland and the Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund is
over halfway toward meeting the
$1,231,500 goal set for this year. (The combined
university/Johns Hopkins Medicine goal for 2008 is
$2,066,000.)
To increase the number of donors and put some fun into
the fundraising, this year's campaign is
featuring more activities than in the past. Events so far
have included a Leadership Luncheon with
WJZ-TV anchor Denise Koch as the featured speaker, the
second annual Homewood Block Party and
the sixth annual Chili Cook-off and Bake-off. In addition,
divisions are holding festive events such as a
free breakfast sponsored by the School of Public Health, an
ice cream social at the School of Nursing
and an online auction run by Safety and Security Services
at Homewood, all to raise awareness and
encourage donations to this year's campaign.
Looking down the home stretch, Jeff Pratt, director of
Faculty, Staff and Retiree Programs,
the office that administers the university campaign, said
that the final four weeks are critical. "So
far," Pratt said, "the Johns Hopkins community has
demonstrated considerable support, despite the
tough economic times, but we are only halfway there."
The campaign runs until Dec. 12; other special events
planned can be found on the Johns Hopkins
United Way Web site:
www.jhu.edu/unitedway
The Web is also the main avenue for donating this
year, as the campaign has gone green. The
eWay online donation system has replaced pledge packets.
Pratt said, "For the most part, I have heard
very positive feedback about the online system; it is easy
to log in with a JHED ID and password, and
the donation process is relatively straightforward. Donors
also seem to like that payroll donations and
designations from last year were carried into this year's
system. Donors just need to log in and
confirm or change their gift from last year."
In addition to the importance of giving, Pratt
stressed the value of incentives such as the
Weinberg Leadership Challenge Grant. This incentive,
sponsored by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
Foundation, helps donors who give a minimum of $750 step up
to $1,000, with the understanding that
the donor will contribute $1,000 the following year. Donors
can designate any part of their gift, but all
challenge grant dollars will be directed to United Way of
Central Maryland.
Donations of time are also needed. Members of the
Johns Hopkins community who would like to
volunteer can roll up their sleeves for a Day of Caring to
clean up the Wyman Park Dell, an event
sponsored by the Whiting School of Engineering, from 9 a.m.
until noon on Saturday, Nov. 15. To get
involved, contact Christine Kavanagh at ctkavanagh@jhu.edu or
410-516-5533.
For more information about the campaign, how to give
and events near you, go to:
www.jhu.edu/unitedway or contact Jeff Pratt at unitedway@jhu.edu or
410-516-0360.
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