West Virginia University faculty and staff have the opportunity to invest in their University through the WVU Foundation’s annual Gold Blue and You Campus Campaign now under way through May.

Through the Campus Campaign, WVU employees are able to give to units, programs or funds they feel passionately about, including scholarship funds, specific departments, academic programs and special faculty/student support initiatives.

During the 2015 Campaign, 1,452 WVU faculty and staff gave more than $1.2 million. These gifts supported education, research, faculty, staff and student experiences.

Mary Esposito, associate director of the Foundation’s University Fund, is heading up this year’s Gold Blue and You Campaign. She believes donating to the University is a great way for faculty and staff to support their favorite WVU projects and programs, and says all contributions, big or small, make a difference.

“Our faculty and staff support our students every day and when they give a gift to WVU it helps enhance the WVU experience for all Mountaineers in and out of the classroom,” Esposito said.

Terry Nebel, assistant director in WVU’s Office of Information Technology Services, has given generously in the past through the Gold Blue and You Campus Campaign.

“Seeing our students succeed as a result of scholarships provided by the Foundation is all the motivation I need to participate in the Gold Blue and You campaign,” Nebel said. “I’m amazed by the outstanding research developed by our students, and to see these same students participate in outreach programs to better our state and nation tells me I’m doing the right thing when I participate in the campaign.”

Dr. Nicholas Bowman, associate professor in WVU’s Department of Communication Studies, believes giving through the Campus Campaign is a form of collegiality.

“Whenever we’re looking into ways that we can build the University, we have a lot of talks about policy and we talk about the programs we can start, but I also recognize that one of the things I can do is help fund some of those initiatives,” Bowman said. “For me, giving back to the University is one of the best ways that I can help out both myself, my department, and all departments on campus.”

Donations can be made through payroll deduction for as little as $3.00 per paycheck, per fund designation. Contributions may also be made by phone at 304.284.4000 or online at www.goldblueandyou.com Descriptions of funds and more information on giving can also be found at the Campaign website. All WVU faculty and staff will be receiving printed materials about the Campaign and further information on how to contribute.

“Participating in the Gold Blue and You Campaign represents our true campus spirit. Giving back during the Campaign is a way for West Virginia University faculty and staff to have an opportunity to show that they believe in WVU’s mission,” said Juliane Russell, assistant director of annual giving at the WVU Health Sciences Center.

Contributions to the Gold Blue and You Campus Campaign are made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $1 billion fundraising effort by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2017.

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CONTACT: Mary Esposito; WVU Foundation
304.284.4016, mesposito@wvuf.org

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