United Way campaign goal set to $1 M

Nonprofit organizations around New Mexico may soon see a boost in funding — even in hard economic times.

Faculty, staff and students are teaming up for the annual UNM and United Way campaign called “UNM Lives United,” which began Monday. United Way is a national nonprofit organization that raises funds for issues such as education and health care. This year, UNM’s goal is to raise $1 million for the organization.

Jenny Shroba, student liaison for United Way, said the University will try to meet their goal by selling paw print cutouts for a donation at coffee shops and eateries around campus.

Shroba said this event allows the UNM community to pitch in towards the goal.
“The University has a goal of raising $1 million dollars,” she said. “That’s kind of a daunting sum for students attending the University, so what we’ve discovered works best is having paper paws. If you donate $1, you get a paw and you can write your name on it.”
Shroba said 2,000 paws were sold last year in three weeks. Her goal for students this year is to sell 5,000 paws in November. She said paws will be available by next week.
Shroba said the paws will be posted all around campus — at the SUB, Starbuck’s and the Student Resource Center Commons area.
“It’s just a visual representation of how students are contributing to the cause,” she said.
This is the second year students are supporting United Way with paper paws, Shroba said. United Way works with UNM alumni, faculty and staff each year, but last year United Way wanted students to get involved with the
fundraising efforts, as well. United Way representatives came to the ASUNM Community Experience office to look for volunteers, she said.
“I think the UNM alumni and faculty always do a United Way campaign because — let’s be honest — they’re the ones who have the big paychecks to do so,” she said. “Last year (United Way) really wanted the students to get involved so they contacted me, and we came up with the idea for the paws. It was so successful last year that we’re pairing up with them again this year.”

Shroba said the event last year raised just shy of $1 million.
Doug Brown, dean of Anderson School of Management, is a co-chair for UNM and United Way. He said representatives from all areas of campus will make the United Way fundraising campaign successful. Even in tough economic times, he said, UNM will still make their goal of $1 million.

“The economy is going to add to the challenge, but I feel confident we’ll make our goals,” Brown said.

Vice President for the Athletics Department Paul Krebs, also a co-chair for UNM and United Way, said all employees will receive packets asking for donations. He said donating to United Way benefits the entire state.

“United Way serves over 100 nonprofit agencies in central New Mexico — from at risk children to elderly victims of violence and neighborhoods,” he said. “They do a tremendous job in so many ways.”

Krebs said donations can even be made to the New Mexico nonprofit of someone’s choice through United Way with no additional fees, including Agora Crisis Center, Camp Rising Sun and the Children’s Hospital.

Krebs said he supports fundraising for United Way because it will help important programs in the Albuquerque community.

“Any time we can help make the community a better place — whether it’s through volunteering our talents, time or money — it’s a chance for our University community to give back and make a difference in the lives of others,” he said.

Brown said helping with this fundraising effort should be a top priority for the UNM community because it directly affects programs that are important to students and staff.

“Often people think of ‘those in need’ as being someone else, somewhere else across town or wherever,” Brown said. “My focus is that the need is right here — among us, among faculty and staff and students. Many of us have needs in our own families.”