UW News

Administrative affairs  |  For UW employees

January 11, 2013

UW Combined Fund Drive breaks giving record, supports more than 1,700 charities

Human Resources Communications

A UW employee holds signs saying I give, how about you.

Hope Friedlander, human resource manager for the UW Center for Commercialization, said that employees at the center raised funds supporting about 60 organizations worldwide.UW Human Resources

The 2012 University of Washington Combined Fund Drive, part of the state’s workplace giving campaign, raised nearly $2.12 million, making it the most successful year in the program’s 28-year history.

The campaign ran October 10 to December, 7. During that time, 4,364 UW faculty, staff and retirees raised $51,697 more than the previous year. The funds went to 1,755 charitable nonprofit groups.

Selecting from more than 3,800 nonprofits, employees give through a one-time donation or sign up for payroll deduction.

“The generosity of our university community is overwhelming and humbling,” said Kerri Everly, campaign manager for the UW Combined Fund Drive. “Every year our faculty, staff and retirees have increased their giving, including through the toughest economic times.”

In 2011, the UW Combined Fund Drive collected more than $2.06 million, nearly 40 percent of the total funds raised by the state’s campaign. “We expect to be close to that percentage again this year,” Everly said.

Some highlights of the 2012 campaign are:

  • A campuswide coin drive raised nearly $3,500 for the Seattle Ronald McDonald House, which houses families of children being treated at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
  • Another $2,700 went to the Seattle Ronald McDonald House from UW Medicine employees who used an online auction of items donated or made by employees.
  • About 1,000 pounds of food was donated to the Seattle House pantry.
  • UW Human Resources raised about $2,000 for ROOTS Young Adult Shelter through events including bake sales, a baked potato bar and a rummage sale, and gave additional money for socks and gloves.

Since the UW Combined Fund Drive began in 1984, UW employees have raised more than $30.8 million to support thousands of causes. The drive has received the state’s highest university participation award, as well as other national and local awards for its outstanding campaign.

Read more about the 2012 UW Combined Fund Drive.

# # #

For more information, contact Everly at 206-616-5437 or keverly@uw.edu.