Issue Archive
UC's own step up to make a difference despite challenging economy
If the events of the last year or two have shown us anything, it's that every dollar counts when times get tough. Governments, businesses and families are all struggling to find answers to a difficult question: How do we do more with less? For many, that means cutting back or sacrificing something important -- a vacation, a new TV, a night out with the family -- just to make ends meet.
But like so many things in life, it's not the challenges and problems we face that define who we are. It's the way we respond to them. And UC's family -- current employees along with adjunct, emeriti and retired faculty and staff -- responded to the challenge like never before to set records for dollars raised and donor participation in this year's university-wide faculty/staff giving campaign, "We're ALL Proudly Cincinnati."
When all the gifts were tallied at the end of June, 2,765 donors gave almost $10.4 million to funding needs across UC's programs, departments and campuses. The numbers represent a 22 percent increase in donors and a 5 percent increase in participation over last year's totals, as well as almost $1.2 million more dollars raised. Going back even further, this year's totals equal a 46 percent increase in donors and a 43 percent increase in total dollars raised since the first faculty/staff campaign concluded in 2005. In better times, this accomplishment would be newsworthy. In these times, it's unprecedented.
The gifts faculty and staff made will support excellence in almost every area of the university. Many chose to support their own college by making gifts to the dean's discretionary fund, which helps bolster student scholarships and financial aid, allows for upgrades in facilities and technology, and gives deans the resources they need to pursue new educational programs and collaborations in their colleges. Others chose to support scholarship programs like Darwin Turner Scholars, Lindner Honors-PLUS Scholars and other scholarship funds created by donors. And many gave to areas that make them proud to be a part of UC, like groundbreaking medical research, student-life funds and athletics.
Their stories deserve to be celebrated because any increase in giving -- no matter who the donors are or what they choose to support -- is a major success. When the increase comes from a dedicated group of men and women who already do so much to make UC what it is today through hard work, student interaction, late nights and more, the only appropriate response (other than one of immense gratitude) is to shout it from the rooftops.
Now, more than ever ...
We're ALL Proudly Cincinnati.
