MIT was honored last week for its past United Way contributions at a Boston ceremony, even as this year's fund drive kicked off in Lobby 7.
MIT and other major donors to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay were recognized in a "Leading the Way" installation at UWMB's headquarters on Summer Street. The collage of photographs, quotes, faces and names lists individuals who last year gave more than $100,000 and corporations whose combined employee and corporate giving exceeded that amount.
MIT was one of 13 organizations that donated between $250,000 and $499,999 last year (Harvard was the only other university to contribute this much). Thirteen companies were honored for donating $500,000 to $999,999; six contributed $1 million to $2 million and three gave more than $2 million.
United Way contributions fund thousands of human-services programs administered by 191 local agencies. Starting next week, chief solicitors in various areas of the Institute will distribute donor packets to employees, who will have several options for how their money is used. They can contribute to the entire United Way network, to one or more eight categories (children six and under, children 7-18 years old, the elderly, the hungry and homeless, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and of substance abuse; abused women and children, and the disabled), to a specific network agency, to a non-United Way health and human services agency in Massachusetts, or to the local United Way in their city or town outside the UWMB service area.
The Institute's goal this year is to raise $300,000 by December 31. Last year, members of the MIT community contributed approximately $260,000. Sixty-four donors were Leadership Givers who donated at least $1,000 apiece.
Again this year, the campaign will feature a bake sale (scheduled for November 21 at 11am in Lobby 7), a clothing drive from December 9-20 and an end-of-campaign raffle for all who made donations. For more information, contact Debra Fair in the Office of Special Community Services, Rm 20A-023, x3-7914, .
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on October 30, 1996.
