MU campaigns for United Way

By Mallory Redinger

Published Oct. 19, 2007

MU students helping the community through organizations during Homecoming season can rest assured that they are not alone. Faculty and staff at MU have joined the United Way in an attempt to help give back to the community.

"The United Way campaign is an annual campaign on campus where staff and faculty are urged to contribute to achieve a goal," campaign Chairman John Murray said. "It's just a way for us to kind of spread goodwill between the community and the university."

The MU-UM United Way campaign focuses mainly on those working within MU faculty and staff for help. As an organization known for its charitable success, the United Way has a goal of raising more than $3 million for the Columbia area, Murray said. The goal for MU figures at $575,000 for 2007.

"There are more than 200 people on campus who are in volunteer roles as part of the university campaign, and it's a very organized effort on campus to achieve a goal of $575,000," Murray said. "But the need is there."

Murray and volunteer Christa Smith said one in five people in the Columbia area would take advantage of the services offered by United Way agencies.

"We're able to raise $575,000 with only 25 percent of staff and faculty giving," Murray said. "If we could get 35 percent, imagine what we could do."

Staff and faculty orchestrating the campaign try to divide responsibilities evenly.

"It's all volunteer efforts, but we try to break it down so that not everyone's doing a tremendous amount of work," Murray said.

Murray said three chairpersons lead the campaign and direct three regional chairpersons, two administrative divisions, two academic divisions, retirees and University Hospitals and Clinics in raising funds.

Smith volunteers as a loaned executive. Loaned executives are members of the university staff and faculty that, for six weeks at a time, become a worker for the United Way.

Smith said his position is made difficult because the university does not allow executives to take a leave at work as other businesses do. Instead, executives from MU must work two jobs.

But Smith said she doesn't mind.

"It's been absolutely gratifying," Smith said. "I have learned so much. It really puts into perspective how others live their lives. We just don't realize how hard others might have it."

Retirees of the MU staff and faculty have taken a large role in giving back despite their retirement.

"As of last week, the retirees have really stepped up," Murray said. "They have achieved 72 percent of their goal. They've brought in $38,000 of donations just among the retirees."

MU and the United Way work closely together. United Way agencies, such as University YMCA and the Adult Day Connection, are located on campus.

MU represents one of the many organizations within the community working with United Way.

"We are just one business among a whole host of businesses," Smith said.

She said MU is responsible for 18 percent of the total money received from contributing organizations.

"It's a circle of giving," Murray said. "You can develop the giving community if you can make people aware of the need, especially when it is something they are passionate about contributions for the Columbia United Way."