The Campaign for Charities is underway at UGA to collect pledges and money for local and state charitable organizations.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “Unity, Hope, Desire: Making Dreams a Reality.”
The Campaign for Charities, which runs until Dec. 15, is an opportunity for faculty and staff to donate to a variety of charitable organizations that are part of the State Charitable Contributions Program. Many of the organizations are engaged in the local community.
“The most important reason to join this effort is to unite as a team to help our neighbors in need,” said Victor Wilson, vice president for student affairs and this year’s honorary campaign chair. “Time and again, I have seen the incredible impact that even small gifts have made in our community. “
This year’s kickoff breakfast highlighted the work of the Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia, which aims to alleviate the financial burden of cancer. Based in Athens, the foundation will give out $1 million in financial support to cancer patients and their caregivers this year, said Kimberly Liebowitz, executive director of the foundation.
Lynn Malcolm, whose mother, Joyce Malcolm, recently completed breast cancer treatment and is now cancer-free, spoke at the kickoff breakfast about the help she and her mother received. The Malcolms were homeless when Joyce learned of her cancer diagnosis. As her mother’s caretaker, Lynn searched for help and found the Cancer Foundation, which offered financial assistance with rent, utilities, gas and groceries during her mother’s treatment. Cancer can be stressful on caregivers as well as patients, but the foundation’s help gave Lynn strength to support her mother through treatment.
“Every need we had, they met,” Lynn said. “If I can tell you one thing about the foundation, it’s that they helped me to be stress-free.”
All UGA employees have received materials about this year’s campaign through campus mail. Faculty and staff are encouraged to return a pledge card by campus mail or make a pledge online. Cards and donation amounts are anonymous.
To learn more about the charitable agencies and how to contribute, go to https://campaign.uga.edu.
For those who participate in this year’s campaign, the university will hold weekly drawings beginning in November for prizes such as parking credits, athletic event tickets and bookstore gift cards.