101 Donations and We Are Almost There!

The latest numbers are in this afternoon and we are thrilled to announce we have almost made our goal of $35,000 for the Champlain College Community Fund and United Way of Chittenden County.

101 donations brought
the campaign to 99%
of our goal!

As we wait and watch to see what Hurricane Sandy brings our way this evening, we have some wonderful news to celebrate.

Here are the numbers: 101 pledges for a total of $34,727 with a 29.2% participation rate!!

That means we are just a couple hundred dollars shy of the monetary goal and well over half the way to our participation goal of 50 percent. We can’t wait to see how much we can go over the top by Wednesday! 

Good news like this is especially important since we know that many of our friends, family, neighbors and Vermonters will be impacted by this storm and the needs will continue to grow for the many United Way agencies that provide programs to help those who need shelter, food, and a helping hand in the face of disaster.

In the days ahead, please remember that United Way 211 is a tremendous source of information about resources, help and services for those in need. It is a statewide clearinghouse and information hotline designed to help people in situations such as Tropical Storm Irene or Hurricane Sandy.

The winner of the $200 travel certificate, donated by Child Travel, is Robert Marino, interim dean of the Division of Information Technology & Sciences. Thank you for your support and generosity.

There are still a host of great prizes to be won in the next incentive drawing on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Your odds of winning are great. Still up for grabs – a 25-meal plan at Sodexo’s Dining Hall, an all-access parking pass for Spring and much, much more.

See the full list of prizes at http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/p/incentive-prizes.html

Every dollar counts and makes a difference. Just because we are so close to our goal is no reason not to act on your best intentions and make your gift to the Champlain College Community Fund. There is still time to help.  

Turn in your pledge cards by 5 p.m. on Wednesday to:

Julie C. Richards,  Academic & Student Services Advisor, Perry Hall, 322 or

drop them off with Human Resources at Lakeside Miller Center, Second Floor.

Send them through inter-office mail to Julie Richards, Box 322, Perry Hall.

                           

Thank you for your generous support that has brought us to 99 percent of our goal.

Need help - United Way's 211 a Good Place to Start

Vermont 2-1-1 (a program of the United Ways of Vermont)

Do you need help finding help?
Looking for help with everyday needs?
Are you facing difficult times and are not sure where to turn? 
Dialing 2-1-1 is your first step!  By dialing 2-1-1, information is much easier to find!  Vermont 2-1-1 is a simple number to dial for information about health and human service organizations in your community. 

Watch our television advertisement to find out all about us.

At Vermont 2-1-1, callers will speak with a real person every time.  Call Specialists can problem solve and/or refer callers to government programs, community-based organizations, support groups, and many other local resources.  Vermont 2-1-1 is:

• A local call from anywhere in Vermont.
• Confidential telephone assistance.

• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Live translation services for 170 languages.
• Access for persons who have special needs.
• Ability to transfer emergency calls to 9-1-1.
• Accurate, updated information about community resources in Vermont.

Rainbow Connection and United Way

I hope you saw this wonderful rainbow over campus this past Saturday. Certainly a good sign leading to the announcement of our $10M gift to the College from the Stiller Family Foundation. And a good reminder to be generous with our time and treasure to make sure others in our community are able to enjoy the beauty all around us. 

Here’s your mid-week reminder about the 2012 Champlain College Community Campaign.

We are in the third week of the October campaign to raise $35,000 with a goal of a 50% staff and faculty participation rate.

The great news is that we have a fresh total to report and a very doable remainder to reach our goal.

·                    $31, 252 pledged toward our goal of $35,000 – 89% of the way to the goal!

·                    90 people for a 26% participation rate toward 50%.

The winner of the Kennedy Rocker, donated by Spruce Mortgage, is Program Director of  Hospitality & Restaurant Mgmt - Event Mgmt/Associate Prof. Peter Straube. Congratulations and thank you for your participation and pledge.

The next incentive raffle will be for all pledges received by Friday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. for all pledges received.   

The Good News for everyone who is eligible i.e. turned in a completed pledge form – the prize list continues to grow.
New this week:

·                    A pair of tickets to see Lyric Theatre Company’s production of RENT thanks to Pat Boera of Career Services.

·                    A 25-meal plan at the Sodexo Dining Hall at Champlain College – courtesy of Ted DeGrande of Sodexo.

·                    A $200 Travel Voucher from Child’s Travel.

See the full list of prizes at http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/p/incentive-prizes.html.

You can turn in your pledge cards  anytime with

Julie C. Richards,  Academic & Student Services Advisor, Perry Hall, 322 or

Drop them off with Human Resources at Lakeside Miller Center, Second Floor.

Send them through inter-office mail to Julie Richards, Box 322, Perry Hall.

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ON CAMPUS SPEAKER THIS WEEK:

One of the 2012 Champlain College Community Campaign goals is to offer educational opportunities to the faculty, staff and our students related to the services we support through our annual United Way gifts.

There are 64 programs at 30 United Way member agencies which received funding this year, including  Spectrum Youth and Family Services, which directly works with teenagers and young adults. Spectrum has been recognized locally and nationally for best practices programs empowering teenagers and young adults through positive changes.  It received $45,000 this year through the United Way allocation process for counseling services.

Mark Redmond,  Executive Director of Spectrum Youth & Family Services, will be on campus for two, hour-long sessions to talk about how United Way contributions directly impact their organization and clients. 

Please join us for one or both of these gatherings THIS WEEK:

·         Oct. 25, Thursday – Miller Center at Lakeside 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

·         Oct. 26, Friday – Hauke Boardroom 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Bring your questions and learn more about Live United. Please encourage students to attend as well.

Learn About Spectrum Youth and Family Services

Dare to Learn More About How You Can Help the Community

One of the 2012 Champlain College Community Campaign goals is to offer educational opportunities to the faculty, staff and our students related to the services we support through our annual United Way gifts.

There are 64 programs at 30 United Way member agencies which received funding this year, including  Spectrum Youth and Family Services, which directly works with teenagers and young adults.

Spectrum has been recognized locally and nationally for best practices programs empowering teenagers and young adults through positive changes.  It received $45,000 this year through the United Way allocation process for counseling services.

Mark Redmond

Mark Redmond, (left),  Executive Director of Spectrum Youth & Family Services, will be on campus for two, hour-long sessions to talk about how United Way contributions directly impact their organization and clients. 

Please join us for one or both of these gatherings next week:

·         Oct. 25, Thursday – Miller Center at Lakeside 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

·         Oct. 26, Friday – Hauke Boardroom 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Bring your questions and learn more about Live United. Please encourage students to attend as well.

Champlain’s goal is to raise $35,000 to contribute toward United Way of Chittenden County’s 2012 Community Campaign goal of $3.85 million.

As of today, we are reporting 87 pledges for $31,252, or an average gift of about $359! That is 89% of the way to our goal of $35,000 at the end of the second week!

We will announce the winner of the Kennedy Rocker on Monday. Get your pledge cards in by 5 p.m. today to be eligible.

Cookies and cider will be provided.

Pumpkin King, Movies and New Totals!

Thanks to Almir Salkic for this pumpkin version of the Champlain College logo. His pumpkin raised the most money in the change jar competition at the Human Resources Benefit Fair in Argosy Gym today. 

Main Street Landing Film Series to Benefit United Way in November

For the second year in a row, the Tuesday night free film series at Main Street Landing will support United Way for the entire month of November. The series kicks off with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, appropriately on Election Night!  On the following three Tuesday evenings in November, the audience will be treated to: The Red Shoes; The Wizard of Oz; and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  All shows start at 7 p.m. So mark you calendars and plan to join the fun, while supporting the United Way Community Campaign.

And happy to report the latest numbers on our campaign.

 As of 5 p.m. Thursday: 

85 pledges for $29,012 for an average gift of about $340!

And we are now at our 25% participation goal. Looks like we need another 85 pledges to hit the 50% participation goal for 2012. 

Visit Us at the Benefits Fair

Champlainers, here’s your mid-week reminder about the 2012 Champlain College Community Campaign.

We are in the second week of the October campaign to raise $35,000 with a goal of a 50% staff and faculty participation rate.

The great news is that we have a fresh total to report!

·         $25,417 pledged toward our goal of $35,000 – 72% of the way to the goal!

·         80 people for a 23.1% participation rate toward 50%.

In case you didn’t check the http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/ this week, the winner of the Apple iPad was Jean Marie Severance of the EHS office. Congratulations and thank you for your participation and pledge.

The next incentive raffle will be Friday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. for all pledges received.   

The Kennedy Rocker, donated by Spruce Mortgage Inc.

See the full list of prizes at http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/p/incentive-prizes.html.

You can turn your pledge cards into

Julie C. Richards,  Academic & Student Services Advisor, Perry Hall, 322 or

Drop them off with Human Resources at Lakeside Miller Center, Second Floor.

Don’t forget to visit the United Way table at the Human Resources & Organizational Development Fair:

Oct. 18, 11a.m.–2p.m., IDX Student Life Center.

Pledge cards, information about United Way and Volunteer Opportunities will be available.

ALSO: Pumpkin Carving Contest, Bring your carved or painted pumpkin between 9:30-11 a.m.

Place loose change into collection jars to vote for the winner at the Benefits Fair.

Prizes for best department/division and best individual pumpkin!

The proceeds will go toward the Champlain Community Campaign!

And save the date for the Staff Council “Starve a Vampire” Blood Drive on

Tuesday Oct. 30 in Hauke Conference Room 102, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Volunteers are still needed to help, contact Jenn Perlee, perlee@champlain.edu,  865-6453 if you would like to help. 

i-Pad Winner and Great Opening Week

Thanks to everyone who turned in their pledge cards by Friday afternoon  - we have received pledges of $22,642 from 73 people. One of our best starts ever to the Champlain College Community Fund.

• The 73 pledges represent a 21 percent participation rate - our goal is 50 percent. 
• The $22,642 pledged represents nearly 65 percent toward our goal of raising $35,000. 

And I am happy to announce that the first winner in our incentive raffle goes to Jean Marie Severance, operations manager in the Division of Education & Human Studies.

Check out our prizes page to see what else you can win by turning in your completed pledge card to Julie Richards in Perry Hall or at the Lakeside Miller Center Human Resources department.

Campaign Kickoff

Martha Maksym of United Way of Chittenden County. 

Martha Maksym, Executive Director of the United Way of Chittenden County spent a few minutes today at the Champlain College Town Hall talking about the community connections and importance of supporting United Way's work in the areas of Health, Education and Income.

Maksym's visit marked the official kick-off to the Champlain College Community Campaign 2012 that runs through October 31 on campus.  

To get things rolling, the Campaign offered an incentive to everyone who turned in their completed pledge cards by 5 p.m. a chance to win a new I-Pad. And the early number seem to support the effectiveness of the plan. 

We are happy to report that as of 5 p.m. Friday, we had 67 pledges in, totalling $21,902 toward our goal of $35,000. Participation was at 19.4 percent toward our goal of 50 percent. 

To those of you who have so generously given, our hearty thanks. To those of you still to give, we encourage you to turn your pledge in early, there are many more great incentive prizes that will be given away between now and Halloween. the earlier you turn in your pledge, the more chances to win.

We will announce the winner on Monday afternoon.