UW News

January 28, 2010

Combined Fund Drive offers coin, donation drive for Haiti assistance

Little things can add up to a lot, and until Feb. 22 you can donate your change to Stand With Haiti, a special coin drive organized by the Combined Fund Drive to help earthquake relief efforts. Or, if you prefer, you can make a one-time or recurring donation to the cause online through the UWCFD.

The money raised will benefit Partners in Health, one of the largest nongovernmental health care providers in the country. The agency has been working on the ground in Haiti for more than 20 years, bringing modern medical care to poor communities there and other countries around the world. Many know Partners in Health and its co-founder, Paul Farmer, from Tracy Kidder’s excellent book Mountains Beyond Mountains, which was the UW’s first common book, chosen for the 2006-2007 school year.

The coin and fund drive — which is open to faculty, staff, students and retirees — will be celebrated in an event from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26, in HUB 309. The gathering will feature updates on the work of Partners in Health, and a review of the total raised so far. All are welcome.

The work of Partners in Health has three goals: to care for its patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. The work of the CFD, Washington’s workplace giving campaign, seeks to help nonprofit and charitable agencies throughout the region — but just now, its sights are set on increasing aid that will help in Haiti.

Don’t know where to bring your coins? Talk to your UWCFD coordinator. If you don’t know who that is or need assistance, call Kerri Everly, campus UWCFD officer, at 206-616-5437 or e-mail her at keverly@uw.edu.

Partners in Health is just one of several CFD-related agencies assisting Haiti during this time of crisis. Others are the American Red Cross, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, UNICEF, World Concern and World Vision. Each has a charity code that makes it easy to send your donation their way.

Learn more or donate online .