FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Nov. 26, 2007
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
 

Marshall University, MCTC launch United Way campaign today

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University and the Marshall Community and Technical College today kicked off the 2007 United Way campaign by announcing numerous activities designed to involve everyone in the university community in an effort to meet the goal of $50,000.

Bernice Bullock, chairperson of Marshall’s 16-member Blue Ribbon committee, which represents different departments and campuses, said the campaign runs Monday, Nov. 26 through Friday, Dec. 7. It is being conducted as part of the West Virginia State Employee Combined Campaign, which is entitled “A State of Caring – Investing in Your Community.”

“This is the time of year when we think about how we can give to our family and also how we can give back to our community,” Bullock said. “Making a pledge to the United Way is one way of giving back that requires little effort from us other than making a donation or completing a pledge card.”

The United Way campaign focuses its assistance on youth, families, safe neighborhoods and aging populations. Those who choose to donate may target their contribution to a specific agency. The Huntington community is represented by United Way of the River Cities, Inc., which has 33 partner agencies.

“In looking over the list of partner agencies – the Red Cross, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, food bank, day care centers, the Salvation Army, and the YMCA and YWCA, just to name a few, it occurred to me that I am very grateful that the United Way helps me to take care of so many,” Bullock said. “All I have to do is make a donation and they spread my money where it will do the most good for my community.”

In addition to annual pledges and payroll deductions, Marshall employees may contribute by participating in some of the fund-raising activities planned over the next two weeks. One of those activities is “I’m Wearing Jeans for United Way,” or “Jeans Wednesdays.” Participants will be “allowed” to wear jeans to work on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5 for a minimal donation.

For $5, employees may wear jeans to work on both designated Wednesdays. For a $3 donation, they may wear jeans on one of the two Wednesdays. To take part, persons may purchase “I’m Wearing Jeans for United Way” stickers from selected contacts in each building on the Huntington campus and the Marshall Medical Center.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, a soup and salad lunch will be available for $3.99 in the John Marshall Dining Room in the Memorial Student Center. Members of the Blue Ribbon committee will be accepting donations to the United Way campaign as persons enter or exit the dining room.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3, local barber Chris Slash will be on campus to give haircuts. He will donate a portion of the proceeds to the United Way campaign. A location for the haircuts is still to be determined.

Marshall students also will take part in the United Way campaign. A corn-hole tournament is in the planning stages, and a prize basket will be raffled.

To monitor the progress and increase awareness of Marshall’s campaign, large thermometer posters will be placed outside the university’s Huntington campus.

Pledge forms and more information are available at the Marshall/United Way Web site at www.marshall.edu/ucomm/unitedway/. For additional information, call Bullock at (304) 696-4376.

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