United Way giving increases

Grand Valley’s United Way campaign saw an increase in giving, response and participation for 2010. Campaign results were announced at the President’s Thank You Breakfast in the Kirkhof Center November 16. The campaign report, to date, showed the following:
• 51.9 percent of employees gave a financial gift this year
• 72.3 percent response rate, up from 66.5 percent last year 
• 5 percent increase in dollars collected: $156,611, up from $149,074 in 2009.

“Once again, the Grand Valley community showed tremendous support for the communities in which we live and work,” said Marlene Kowalski-Braun, campaign co-chair.

Forty students, faculty and staff members participated in Day of Caring and 99 reading mentors participated in Schools of Hope. During the Stuff the Bus campaign, students, faculty and staff members literally stuffed a school bus with supplies for local schools and students donated more than $1,000 for supplies.

Kowalski-Braun and co-chair Jon Jellema announced the new campaign co-chairs for next year: Sue Sloop, Work Life consultant, and Steve Lipnicki, assistant dean of students.