The average gift from Grand Valley faculty and staff members to United Way during the university’s 2014 campaign increased by $6 per person, campaign co-chairs Sue Sloop and Steve Lipnicki said.
Overall, the campaign raised more than $165,000 to help fund United Way and programs like Schools of Hope, Stuff the Bus and Project Blueprint.
The response rate of faculty and staff was 72 percent, almost exactly on par with the five-year average. The giving rate ended at 47.5 percent, slightly down from 2013’s total of 49.9 percent, but donations were higher in 2014.
“We’re thankful for the time that everyone took to hear from their campaign captains and grateful to those who chose to help support the United Way,” Sloop said. “We hope to have an increase in responses and giving next year so we can continue to help the United Way do meaningful work in our local communities.”
Sloop and Lipnicki will not return as co-chairs for the 2015 campaign, but acknowledge and thank the campaign committee for its dedication, hard work and tireless efforts. The committee members are Darla Bennett, Brian Van Doeselaar, Michelle Holstege, Nate Hoekstra and Chelsea Wojes, Heart of West Michigan United Way. The new campaign co-chairs will be Ruth Stegeman from the office of Community Engagement and Damon Arnold from Laker Athletics.
For more information on the GVSU United Way campaign, visit gvsu.edu/unitedway.
