UW News

October 5, 2011

As 2011 Combined Fund Drive begins, agencies need help ‘now more than ever

UW News

The 2010 UW Combined Fund Charity Fair, seen from above in Mary Gates Commons, where it will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12.

The 2010 UW Combined Fund Charity Fair, seen from above in Mary Gates Commons, where it will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12.

Consider this: A single dollar donated to UNICEF though the UW Combined Fund Drive buys four measles vaccinations, and could save four lives. Just one buck — think of what a larger donation could do.

The 2011 Combined Fund Drive, Washington states workplace giving campaign, will run from Oct. 12 to Dec. 2. The theme for the UWs campaign is “The time is now: Give today.”

The 2010 CFD raised a total of $2,044,404 to support all manner of nonprofit programs in the arts, environment, health, education, disaster relief, human services and much more. This years campaign aims to meet or beat that total.

“We are hoping that everyone will consider participating in the drive this year,” said Kerri Everly, UW CFD manager. “Despite hard times, the UW community has continued to show extraordinary generosity. Area nonprofit agencies continue to need our help — now more than ever.”

Representatives of CFD-assisted agencies chat with Louise Edgerton, right, and her mobility dog, Cloud, a yellow Labrador retriever trained at Summit Assistance Dogs, at the 2010 Charity Fair. Theyll be back this year, too.

Representatives of CFD-assisted agencies chat with Louise Edgerton, right, and her mobility dog, Cloud, a yellow Labrador retriever trained at Summit Assistance Dogs, at the 2010 Charity Fair. Theyll be back this year, too.

You can help with one-time donations or designate an amount to be taken from each paycheck. And you can target your donation, too. Really like the University District Food Bank or Habitat for Humanity, for instance? Just search the charities to find their code and you can donate directly to that fund. Donations are tax-deductible, and greatly appreciated by the 3,400-some agencies that get support from the CFD.

You can learn a lot more at the annual UW Combined Fund Charity Drive Fair, which kicks off the campaign from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, in the Mary Gates Hall commons.

Its a chance to meet and talk with representatives from more than 60 area agencies who rely on the campaign for assistance — such as MEOW Cat Rescue, Conservation Northwest, Urban Rest Stop, Community Health Charities of Washington and Idaho, Summit Assistance Dogs and more. There will be door prizes and a coin drive to benefit PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society). You might even find a new role as a volunteer for one of these agencies.

Other CFD-related events and programs planned just now include:

  • From Oct. 12 to Nov. 4 there also will be a campuswide “Shoe Harvest” gathering new and gently used shoes to benefit the agency Redeeming Soles, a Seattle nonprofit organization that in turn provides footwear to other Puget Sound organizations.
  • PAWS will receive 10 percent of all proceeds from a Dining for Dollars event at Piattis in U Village on Oct. 24 when diners mention the UW Combined Fund Drive.
  • Red Mango in U Village will donate 20 percent of all proceeds to PAWS every Tuesday throughout the campaign if customers bring in the Red Mango flyer available from CFD coordinators or the UWCFD office.