November 20, 2008
A commitment to the CFD, even from a temporary staffer
Name: Lori Huskey
UW Job: Campaign Executive
CFD-related activity: Campaign executive for the UW Combined Fund Drive
For how long? Her temporary position with the campaign runs from August through January.
Why this work? “I started out doing event planning for authors when I was a graduate student. After doing that for two years, I thought about how I could use event planning. I found through working in development that a lot of nonprofits do events to fundraise,” Huskey wrote in an e-mail. “Then I became interested in nonprofits. However, I’ve always wanted to work at a university, first and foremost UW, so this job is a perfect match.”
She said that working for the CFD, “I am able to work as a UW employee while also interacting with numerous charities in Seattle.”
Her own story: Huskey wrote that because her position is temporary it does not include health care benefits. A fellow CFD coordinator told her about the Pike Market Medical Clinic. “It was totally job-related for me to check them out because they are one of the charities the CFD supports … Before I knew it, not only was I meeting with the development officer to discuss the clinic but I was also making an appointment for myself.” She was able to use the clinic for her own medical needs and was impressed with the quality of care — “how attentive the staff was and how sincere the doctors were.
“I have a hearing impairment, so when I showed up at my appointment they had arranged an (American Sign Language) interpreter and I probably spent more time with a doctor than I ever had before. He seemed authentically interested in how he could help me and I couldn’t believe that this was the best service I’d ever received — and it was nearly free!
“I also think going to a public clinic is good because it doesn’t have that bourgeois privatized feeling. You actually see the face of the American people who don’t have insurance and are waiting in line with you — from all walks of life.”
Campaign goal for 2008: “We are trying to raise $2 million this year. We are very proud of our fundraising accomplishments and it shows that UW surely has a culture of giving.”
