Champlain Campaign to Run Oct. 9-31

Champlain’s “Let Us Dare to Help”
Community Campaign 2012 Begins 

Annual fundraising effort to support United Way of Chittenden County and Community Programs

The 2012 Champlain College Campaign will begin Tuesday, Oct. 9 and will get its official kick-off at the all-staff and faculty College Town Meeting on Friday. Oct. 12 at 8:15 a.m.  The College has set an ambitious goal of raising $35,000 with a participation rate of 50 percent in conjunction with the United Way of Chittenden County’s annual Community Fund Campaign.

  

Mascot Chauncey T. Beaver and Stephen Mease, public information and news director, are back for a third year co-chairing the Champlain College Community Campaign for one simple reason, they said, “We are confident that our fellow Champlainers will step up and help us achieve these goals. It is critical to helping serve those in need, especially in the areas of education, financial independence and healthy living.

”Pledge packets and information will be available online for download, at Lakeside's Humna Resources offices and at Perry Hall 350 in the Public Relations office. “We will also have them available Friday morning at Alumni Auditorium at Town Meeting. Everyone who turns in a completed pledge form by 5 p.m. that day will be eligible for the drawing to win one of our top prizes,” he said.

This year’s theme is “Let Us Dare to Help Our Community,” playing off the College’s official motto: Adeamus – Let Us Dare.

Last year, donations through the campaign raised nearly $30,000 with a participation rate of 41 percent. “We missed meeting our goal of $35,000 and 53% participation last year, but I think that was due to in part to all the fundraising efforts and concerns that followed the devastation of many communities by tropical storm Irene in Vermont,” Mease said. “We also are planning to make a greater effort to help educate folks about how the money is used and important work it enables with children, families, seniors and others.”

The overall 2012 United Way of Chittenden County campaign has set a goal of $3.85 million this year to provide vital funding to programs to organizations like the Committee on Temporary Shelter, King Street Center, Boys and Girls Club, the DREAM program, Visiting Nurse Association and Women Helping Battered Women, to name just a few.

A committee of staff and faculty are currently working on the final details of the Champlain Campaign, which will run from Oct. 9-31. As in year’s past, there will be special incentive raffles for those who make a pledge to the campaign. Prizes in the past have included an Apple I-Pad, an all access parking pass for Spring, ski passes, gift certificates, travel vouchers and more. Serving on the committee this year are:  Mary M. Lee, John Pelletier, Sarah Potter, Debra Dayman, Julie Richards, Melissa Hersh and Shelley Richardson.

“We know that Champlain faculty, staff and students daily step forward to demonstrate their giving spirit. It happens at campus blood drives; taking a pie in the face to help DREAM mentoring; sleeping out on Aiken Lawn during Tent City’s homeless awareness campaign in November, or volunteering countless hours to help children, the elderly and those in greatest need in Vermont. Making a financial contribution through payroll deduction or a one-time gift is another tangible way to help those in need,” Mease added.

Can’t make Friday’s Town Hall meeting? Download the pledge form from the blog and send it in to Julie Richards Box #11 or drop off at Perry Hall room 322 or with Debra Dayman at Lakeside Campus in the Human Resources Department. Be sure to keep a copy of the form for your tax records.

Again this year, we ask you to consider making your gift through payroll deduction. It’s the easiest way to give a little more than you might if you just wrote one check.  Pledges made during the fall campaign will begin in January 2013. Remember, you also have the option to designate your gift to the United Way Community Care Fund, a specific impact area, another United Way in Vermont, or a specific United Way agency.

·         Visit www.unitedway to learn more about specific programs and initiatives.

·         Visit http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/ for news about Champlain’s Campaign.

“Each and every gift, large or small, makes a real difference to those in need. A successful Champlain Campaign is an outward sign to the community that we care. Thank you for your participation and generous support!” Mease said.

Questions? Contact Steve Mease at smease@champlain.edu or call 865-6432.