U.Va. Employees Contribute in Record Numbers to Charitable Giving Campaign and Volunteer Service Event

Feb. 22, 2007 -- More than 3,700 U.Va. employees supported their favorite charities through the 2006 CVC, contributing a record $813,125. This amount represents nearly one-fifth of the $4.2 million raised statewide and is more than double the total of any other state agency. 

Held each fall, the CVC is a workplace-giving program that allows state employees to give to charities of their choice in the areas of health and human services, animal welfare and environmental causes Anne Dinterman, state CVC coordinator said, “The University of Virginia sets the bar for other agencies. Teamwork and a passion for giving are hallmarks of the workplace-giving program at U.Va.”

Virginia provides the CVC to state employees to make it easy for them to contribute to their favorite causes. One attractive feature of the CVC is that no overhead fees are charged from donations when employees designate their gifts to identified charities.

The CVC at U.Va. has experienced significant growth, setting new records each year for number of participating employees and amount contributed. Since 1999, U.Va. employees have contributed nearly $4.8 million to charities through a workplace-giving campaign.

United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring

On Sept. 20, 2006, a record-breaking 950 U.Va. employees participated in the annual United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring, a volunteer service event that helps area nonprofit organizations and schools. U.Va. employees’ participation in the Day of Caring increased 40 percent over 2005 and accounted for 45 percent of the total participation from area firms.

The United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring is one of the largest, if not the largest, volunteer efforts in the state. In September, U.Va. employees completed 100 projects at area community organizations and schools. The projects included landscaping, painting, playing Bingo with seniors, working with Special Olympics youth and, notably, staffing the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad for the day.

Over the years, participation by U.Va. employees in the annual Day of Caring has continued to grow. Since 1999, the number of U.Va. employees participating has grown from 120 to 950 – an increase of nearly 700 percent. 

Celebration of Community Spirit Volunteer Luncheon

In recognition of the hundreds of employees who provide service, U.Va. will hold a Celebration of Community Spirit Volunteer Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at noon in Newcomb Hall Ballroom. At the event, employees from the across the University will be acknowledged for their extraordinary commitment to service.

"The CVC and Day of Caring at U.Va. are successful because of employees’ willingness to volunteer their time, talents and resources in support of the community,” said Ida Lee Wootten, director of the University’s Community Relations Office and U.Va.’s 2006 CVC chair. 
Some of the local organizations that benefited from U.Va.’s participation in the 2006 CVC and Day of Caring include: Charlottesville Free Clinic, United Way Thomas Jefferson Area, Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA and Camp Holiday Trails.

On Feb. 28, at an event in Richmond, U.Va. will receive the Award of Excellence from the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management for its outstanding performance in the 2006 CVC.

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