Q. What is significant about this year's United Way
campaign?
A. There are two exciting new elements to the
campaign: the Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund and a
new online pledge system, eWay. Also, United Way of Central
Maryland is in the second year of its
Community Impact Model, a focused effort that addresses
four key areas--Basic Needs, Family
Safety, School Readiness and Youth Achieving
Potential--that are essential to improving people's lives
and strengthening communities throughout central
Maryland.
Q. What is the Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund, and
how can I donate to it?
A. The Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund is a new
initiative created to support agencies that serve
communities in close proximity to Johns Hopkins campuses
and that have a strong relationship with
the university and its employees. The fund is designed to
leverage the significant financial and
volunteer contributions made by both employees and the
university to help local organizations working
to build stronger neighborhoods by addressing five key
areas: health, education, public safety,
employment and community revitalization.
To contribute, mark the box for the Neighborhood Fund
under No. 4 on the United Way pledge
form or click the appropriate section on the secure online
pledge system at
https://donor.unitedeway.org.
Q. I'm active in a nonprofit organization. How can I
request that it be included in the Johns Hopkins
Neighborhood Fund?
A. Nonprofit organizations associated with JHU
through employee and/or institutional involvement and
that deliver services to the communities near our campuses
will be considered for funding through a
proposal process. For more information, contact the Johns
Hopkins United Way administrator, Matt
Smith in the Office of Faculty, Staff and Retiree Programs,
at [email protected] or 410-516-0345.
Q. What is eWay, and how do I use it?
A. Paper pledge forms can still be used, but eWay
is a new, streamlined online pledge system through
which donors can contribute to the 2007 campaign for United
Way of Central Maryland. The system
allows users to easily designate all or part of their
pledge to the Johns Hopkins Neighborhood Fund,
United Way of Central Maryland, one of the four United Way
impact areas or other health and human
service agencies.
To use eWay, go directly to
https://donor.unitedeway.org or access it via the
university's
United Way site at
www.jhu.edu/unitedway and click on the "Pledge Now"
button. Instructions were
sent out with pledge packets, but anyone who needs help
with pledging online should contact Matt
Smith at
[email protected] or 410-516-0345.
Q. Can I exclude an agency from receiving any of my
donation?
A. Donors have the option of excluding an agency from
receiving any part of their donation by writing
the agency's name on the pledge form or indicating it in
their designations online.
Please give today. Your contribution will help to provide
stronger neighborhoods and better lives for
thousands of needy families in Central Maryland.