Penn's Way campaign breaks previous records

Charitable contributions to the University's United Way/Penn's Way campaign broke records this year, an increase credited to faculty and staff members structuring the campaign "their way." In the first combined campaign run by the University instead of the United Way, contributions hit record numbers, and exceeded last year's total by $28,773 and the set goal of $400,000 by $242. Though University faculty and staff members organized the campaign, 7 of the 13 charities toward which patrons gave money are managed by the United Way. "On behalf of the faculty and staff who have for several years been pushing for a combined campaign, I was very pleased with the results," said David Rudovsky, senior law fellow and Penn's Way participant. Specific Care, Inc., an umbrella group managed by the United Way which includes human service agencies, received one-third of the donations, the largest single allotment of money. Throughout the campaign, which lasted from November 1 until January 6, fundraisers attempted to provide a "personalized approach," according to Barbara Murray, pledge processor. "It was a very good campaign in terms of enthusiasm," said Linda Richardson, spokesperson for the Black United Fund. "[The fund] doubled its contributions due to the involvement of volunteers and cooperation between partners and leadership." Penn's Way volunteers distributed books providing information about each participating charity and attached individual donation cards. The campaign involved hundreds of solicitators and almost 40 coordinators. "[We were] helped a lot by the coordinators and solicitators on the front line to approach individuals," said Murray. Murray said she was "very happy" with the results and noted that the Penn's Way campaign did a "better job of training people as far as completing the pledge card." In last week's Almanac, Penn's Way committee chairman Raymond Fonseca said that "despite a very sluggish economy, we've raised over nine percent more than last year." He could not be reached for comment last week. President Sheldon Hackney last spring moved the University's campaign away from United Way control after University employees sought more guidance over which charities received their donations. Since the charity program only involved members of the University community, the campaign was able to focus on their specific needs. "We were able to see first-hand what the problems were of entering information," Murray said. She spent about two-and-a-half days each week processing the results. Almost 4,000 University employees participated in the appeal -- 45 percent of those approached -- and half of the individual units within the University reached or exceeded their monetary goals. "We always maintained that a combined campaign would raise contributions across the board," Rudovsky said. "The United Way said it would lead to a reduction in giving. This year's results demonstrates that the prediction is not correct." United Way spokesperson Joe Divis praised the University for its campaign. "Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to make it a success," United Way spokesperson Joe Divis. "We're glad the United Way, through our funds, could play a part in the Penn's Way campaign."