Pitt Breaks Its United Way Giving Record for Third Consecutive Year, Raising $620,326

The University of Pittsburgh broke its United Way giving record for the third consecutive year in 2012, raising $620,326. The total surpassed by $3,000 Pitt's fundraising efforts in 2011.

The Pitt United Way Campaign, titled Live United for a Greater Pittsburgh, "engages faculty and staff across the University who are committed to building a healthy and vibrant community,” said Pitt’s United Way campaign manager Anne Franks, executive director of administration in Pitt’s Office Institutional Advancement. “We reach out to our neighbors because we are all connected, and we do best when everyone is cared for. The 400-plus coordinators and representatives throughout the campus give their time generously to encourage their colleagues to join them in this important effort. It is, indeed, the people of Pitt who make this a strong community partnership.”

In total, there were 2,374 gifts from University employees and 127 gifts from retirees. Faculty and staff donated $580,886; retirees gave $26,361, and $13,079 was raised through special events held by several of Pitt's departments. There were 623 new donors, and $305,326 was directed to the United Way’s Impact Fund. Unionized staff participation increased by 13 percent, and the amount of their donations represented a 90 percent increase.

The 2012 campaign kicked off in September 2012 and was cochaired by G. Reynolds Clark, vice chancellor for community initiatives and chief of staff for Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, and Everette James, associate vice chancellor for health policy and planning for the schools of the health sciences. Michelle Page, human resources manager in the Office of Institutional Advancement, served as campaign coordinator. 

Franks said there were several creative fundraising efforts this year. The Office of Parking, Transportation, and Services held a contest for employees that gave the winner a chance to trade places with its director, Kevin Sheehey; the Office of Institutional Advancement held a cookout and chili contests; and the employees at Pitt’s Thomas Boulevard facility competed with those in the Hillman Library in soup-selling competition.