Organizers of the Campaign for Community Giving at MIT are calling for increased participation from faculty and staff.
The campaign's goal is to raise $400,000 by Dec. 31. As of Dec. 16, $216,608 had been raised from 739 contributors. Campaign chair Professor Kenneth A. Smith of chemical engineering said, "It is critical that we as individuals and as a community support non-profit agencies and the clients they serve who are severely affected by funding cuts and times of economic uncertainty."
In a letter distributed to the MIT community on Tuesday, Dec. 17, President Charles M. Vest said: "In these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to join together and support the many charitable organizations that serve individuals and families in need. Last year, the campaign raised an impressive $400,000. This year, we hope to surpass that amount and increase the number of people who participate in the campaign. As campaign chair Ken Smith stated in his kickoff letter to you, 'Please know that every donation, large or small, makes a difference and is appreciated.'
"We recognize that MIT staff and faculty contribute to their communities in many ways through volunteerism, activism and financial support. Through the Community Giving at MIT campaign, we have made it convenient for you to support local health and human service agencies ... If you have already contributed to the 2002 campaign, I thank you. If you have not, I encourage you to consider making a donation to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, the MIT Community Service Fund, or other charities."
The campaign offers a range of giving options: the MIT Community Service Fund, which provides financial support for staff and students who volunteer at Cambridge schools, educational programs, homeless and domestic violence shelters, and substance abuse programs; the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and its affiliated organizations; or employees can contribute to local 501(c)(3) health and human service agencies which are not affiliated with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. MIT employees can contribute through payroll deductions, personal checks, credit card or securities. Please send completed pledge forms to your department representative or directly to campaign headquarters in Room 50-005.
For more information about the Community Giving at MIT Campaign, contact Ted Johnson at tej@mit.edu or Traci Swartz at tswartz@mit.edu in the Community Services Office, Room 50-005, 253-7914.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on December 18, 2002.
