By Kyle Winslow
The University of Louisville launched a campus-wide campaign this month to support four local charities.
U of L Cares is an employee giving fundraiser to gain support and awareness for organizations such as Fund for the Arts, Metro United Way, WHAS Crusade for Children and U of L. These organizations assist people and programs throughout our community, including employees and their families of U of L. They remain very active in the university as well as within the community.
In only the second year of this combined campaign, U of L president, Dr. James R. Ramsey, is challenging the U of L faculty to raise $300,000, which would be an 11 percent increase over last year’s efforts.
In a message to the faculty Ramsey said, “You may choose to support any or all of the charities in the campaign, and 100 percent of your gift will support the organization(s) that you designate. Payment is through easy payroll deduction.”
Elaine Wise, the chairwoman for the division of Humanities and the faculty athletic representative agreed. “I’ve been giving every year and I try to increase it every year. It is a convenient way to give to my community.”
According to Nancy Tafel, director of Individual Gifts for the Fund for the Arts, “The Fund provides financing, facilities and administrative support for 24 area arts groups and programs. In addition, over 200 community access grants are awarded annually to community groups and schools in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.” Other Fund sponsored activities included the annual Whittenberg scholarship, co-sponsorship of the Gheens Young Artist Program with the Kentucky Center and support of the Black Achievers annual Arts program.
John Blim, the marketing director for the WHAS Crusade for Children, discussed the Crusade’s role with children in the community. “The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. established in 1954 by WHAS-TV, raises money for schools, agencies and hospitals to better the lives of special needs children. Over the past 53 years, the Crusade has raised more than $118 million.”
“Today, Metro United Way helps support more than 100 health and human service agencies serving residents of Bullitt, Jefferson, Oldham and Shelby Counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd, and Harrison Counties in Indiana,” according to the Metro United Way Web site.
Lastly, employees giving to U of L helps provide scholarships, library materials, research and Hallmark scholarships for Kentucky students and cancer research at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center.
U of L has provided three different contributing possibilities for its faculty. The first is Care Share in which one can give a gift of a dollar a week ($52 a year) and qualify for a Care Share gift of a U of L umbrella. The next possibility is one President Ramsey has been heavily promoting.
“This year, we ask that each employee consider becoming a Caring Cardinal by donating the equivalent of one hour of pay per month (or .6 percent of his or her salary). Becoming a Caring Cardinal qualifies you for complimentary gifts,” said Ramsey.
The final giving plan offered by the university is to become a Cardinal Leader. A faculty member can become a Cardinal Leader by making a leadership pledge of $1,000.
Diana Dicus, administrative assistant for the Vice President of University Advancement, said that as of Tues., Oct. 17, approximately 5,100 gifts had been entered online. The faculty and staff are encouraged to join U of L Cares by paycheck deduction or by giving check or credit card.
In a statement to the university, President Ramsey said, “Your support demonstrates that you care about making our community a healthy, vibrant and caring place where everyone has the chance to succeed.
