“United Way does absolutely wonderful things,” said a tearful Robyn Shelala, speaking at the campus United Way/Earth Share fundraiser reception held at Ragsdale House last Wednesday, Sept. 24.”The money raised is very well spent.”
Shelala, a United Way Loaned Executive, volunteers for the local branch of Hospice Foundation of America, one of the many organizations supported by the United Way.
Her family was given aid after her mother was diagnosed with cancer.
“They were phenomenal,” she said. “[We] called on Tuesday, they came on Wednesday.” She came to the reception to entreat the faculty and staff present to give generously in this year’s campaign.
Guilford College has been holding a fundraiser for the United Way for many years. Earth Share, a North Carolina-based environmental organization, joined the campaign three years ago.
“This year we hope to raise $7,000,” said Dave Limburg, German Professor and one of the fundraiser’s organizers. “There are 350 employees at Guilford – that’s only $20 apiece.”
The reception on Wednesday was the kick-off for this year’s drive and an opportunity for everyone involved to meet and socialize and to learn a little about the organizations they are supporting. Representatives from both the United Way and Earth Share came to speak about their respective organizations.
The United Way is a national organization that “invests in and activates the resources to make the greatest possible impact in communities across America,” said www.UnitedWay.org.
There are approximately 1,400 local United Way chapters across the country, all independently incorporated and run by volunteers. United Way of Greater Greensboro supports over 214,000 local residents by helping fund such agencies as the Salvation Army, KidsPath, and the Arc.
“One in three people in Guilford County are touched by the United Way,” said Judy Piper, the corporate support contact for the United Way who spoke at Wednesday’s reception. “We can only do this through your support.”
Earth Share is an umbrella institution for 65 local, national and international environmental organizations, including the
Piedmont Land Conservancy, the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy.
Since 1991, they have raised over $3.5 million to protect North Carolina’s air, water, and forests, and to educate citizens on environmental safety.
The organization was involved in the recent Clean Smokestacks Bill, a move to reduce pollutants from 13 North Carolina coal fire power plants. As a result, North Carolina now has some of the most stringent clean air laws in the country.
The money for the United Way/Earth Share fundraiser drive is raised mostly through donations from the Guilford faculty and staff, but student contributions are also welcome.
Anyone who is interested in giving a personal donation or being involved in the school fundraiser should contact either Dave Limburg or Greg Keener, the Guilford staff members in charge of this year’s drive.
For more information about the two organizations supported, visit :
www.unitedway.org
or www.earthshare.org