Charity raises money for organizations
USC’s United Way campaign has been working tirelessly over the past week and a half to raise money for the organization’s Midlands office, and its organizers will soon know how much their efforts have paid off.
The campaign, which began March 19 and ends today, has a goal of $140,000, a 35-percent increase compared to the amount donated by faculty and staff during the 2011 campaign.
The amount raised will not be known until the campaign has finished. The results should be announced by the end of next week, according to Chris Byrd, USC’s vice president for human resources and this year’s chairperson for the university’s campaign.
“We feel like we’ve done a good job getting word out about the campaign, and we’re hopeful that it’ll be a success,” Byrd said.
He added that 13 percent of USC faculty and staff donated in 2011.
“Our goal is a little bit of a stretch from last year, but we wanted to increase the rate of participation,” he said.
The campaign has a vocal supporter in the university President Harris Pastides.
“If every full-time employee on the Columbia campus gave just $2 per paycheck for the next year, we would surpass our goal of $140,000,” Pastides said in one of the campaign’s promotional videos.
Pastides said he gives at the Tocqueville level each year. Tocqueville donors pledge at least $10,000 annually.
Byrd said the promotional videos, one of which features a USC student who mentors at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, are part of the campaign’s efforts to recognize those who volunteer.
“This year, we tried to put a focus on people who not only support financially but also give their time,” he said.
According to United Way’s website, the organization offers health, education and financial stability programs across the country. Locally, it provides financial support to more than 80 partner agencies, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Girl Scouts of South Carolina and Habitat for Humanity.
Byrd said the money raised from the USC campaign stays in the Midlands to support regional programs.
Stephanie Hoyt, a second-year international business, marketing and management student and president of USC’s Student United Way, said the student organization will be making a contribution to the campaign with money raised at its Occupy Greene Street fundraiser last week.
“I am passionate about United Way because Columbia is such a great city, and it gives me a chance to give back to the Midlands area,” Hoyt said. “I feel as if I am really making a difference and changing people’s lives.”
According to USC’s United Way Campaign website, donations can be earmarked for the United Way’s Community Impact programs or for a specific partner agency.
Students, faculty and staff who are still interested in pledging to the campaign can do so for the remainder of the day at uway.org/usc.