The West Virginia University community raised $330,050 for its annual United Way Campaign, just exceeding this year’s goal of $330,000.

Since 2007, the University has given the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties more than $1.5 million. WVU has raised more than $300,000 each of the last four years.

“It’s been an honor to help the University with the United Way Campaign,” said WVU head football coach Dana Holgorsen, chair of the 30th annual campaign. “It’s never easy, but due to everyone’s hard work this year is an incredible success.”

WVU students helped raise $25,059 for the campaign through efforts like the fifth-annual Gold Rush T-shirt sale for the Mountaineers’ football game vs. Oklahoma and the second Mountaineers United Run/Walk. A total of $8,500 was raised from Gold Rush T-shirts. More than $1,500 was raised from the Run/Walk.

In total, a record 1,345 University employees donated to the United Way Campaign; that’s 62 more than a year ago when WVU raised a record $335,100.

“When so many people work together, a lot can be accomplished. This campaign proves that,” said WVU President Jim Clements. “We love being in this community. It gives a lot to us, and we give a lot to the community. This is a really good example of good people making a good difference.”

The University celebrated the campaign’s success on Thursday (Nov. 29) at Touchdown Terrace in Milan Puskar Stadium. At that event, a check was presented to the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties.

WVU is, once again, the largest contributor to the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties.

For four straight years, the University’s United Way campaign has been recognized as the “Best of the Best” by the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. The honor is given to the campaign that truly lives the United Way’s message, which is to “give, advocate, volunteer and live united.”

WVU’s United Way campaign began in 1982 and has been conducted each year since. This year’s theme was “30 Years of Giving United.”

“I want to thank everyone for their support, because it makes our community a better place,” said Dottie Oakes, United Way Campaign chair. “I truly wanted people to realize what they were doing and what they were giving had true meaning. You really, really do make a difference.”

All contributions for WVU’s United Way Campaign stay local, as the money is donated to 31 different organizations in Monongalia and Preston Counties that assist people with healthcare, childcare, youth mentoring, senior programs, mental health programs, disaster response initiatives and healthy lifestyle initiatives, among others. These agencies, however, do not have the resources for large fundraising campaigns and rely on WVU’s United Way campaign each year for additional funding.

-WVU-

td/11/29/12

CONTACT: University Relations/News
304-293-6997

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.