WMU United Way kicks off campaign

By Lexie Causley
Staff Reporter

The Western Michigan University United Way campaign has kicked off its fundraising efforts with high hopes for success.

“Our goal this year is $300,000, just for the campus,” Joe Reish, chair of the campaign, said. “We hope not only to surpass the goal set, but also increase our donor base by ten percent.”

The money raised from the United Way campaign helps the greater Kalamazoo Area in three areas: education, income and health.

This year, the United Way is helping to launch a preschool program, to help children become prepared for schooling. They also help with a reconnection program, which reaches out to those who have dropped out of high school; the program helps them get back on their feet, and back to school.

“The average rate of unemployment in Kalamazoo is higher than the national average,” Reish said. “The amount of people unemployed, or underemployed, is 13.5-14% of the people living in greater Kalamazoo.”

The United Way helps those who cannot afford the medical attention they need, whether that is physical or mental Health.

“We support welfare and health of the greater community,” Reish said. “United Way alone brings $3 million back into the community.”

He said that this year he hopes to get more students involved. The campaign has just begun, and will go until the 12th of November.

Working with Amy Seth, the director of the Student Recreation Center, Reish hopes to get student groups to help not only raise money, but bring awareness to the campus.

Those students who are employed through Western can make donations through pay roll deductions, or they can donate with a credit card.

“The campus doesn’t belong without the community as a large. We can promote through giving and advocacy, and we together can make the community better. There is a tie into the community; the more the University can do, the more we will see the benefits.”

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=27698

Posted by thehair on Sep 19 2011. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry