Giving Green Campaign kicks off with luncheon and agency fair

Friday, October 5, 2012

Co-chairs Tina McEntire and Dustin Read discussed how charitable giving impacted them personally during Thursday’s kickoff luncheon for the Giving Green Campaign.

McEntire, associate provost for enrollment management, talked about how the Arts & Science Council (ASC) supported local cultural/artistic nonprofits, such as the Choir School.

“My daughter Emily has trained in classical choir music, and when she was younger she auditioned for the Choir School, a unique nonprofit dedicated to teaching students about choral music,” said McEntire. “Today my daughter is applying for vocal scholarships to college, and that might not have been possible without ASC’s support of the Choir School.”

Read, director of the Center for Real Estate in the Belk College of Business, commented on the importance of private funding to the University, which enabled him to complete his doctorate as a full-time UNC Charlotte student.

“Now, I see how giving from all of us and those outside the University enhances my program,” he noted. He encouraged the more than 200 attendees to the kickoff to consider donating to a campus program to enhance students’ collegiate experience.

Members of the Chancellor's Cabinet (above) helped with the luncheon. Attendees could attend the agency fair to learn more about some of the organizations that benefit from the campaign.

He also spoke about the impact of nonprofit organizations. The majority of such organizations start out as small, grassroots nonprofits committed to fulfilling community needs, and often, they become vital to enhancing the quality of life for everyone, he added. As part of the kickoff, representatives from a number of agencies that benefit from the Giving Green Campaign were on hand to discuss their organizations.

Amy Tribble and Mary Paisley, from the ASC and the State Employees Combined Campaign, respectively, also addressed kickoff attendees. Tribble stressed the power giving in tandem with others, adding that she appreciated the campus’ past and future support of the ASC.

Paisley focused on the community-building experience that workplace fundraising programs, such as Giving Green Campaign, can have on an organization. She wanted University faculty and staff to know the campaign provided a convenient way to support 900-plus organizations, and that the SECC vetted all charities. She added, University employees, along with those at other state agencies, have the opportunity to be the voice for charities and causes for which they have a personal connection.

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois also spoke. He stressed that faculty, staff and students already support the community through volunteering, and often, at various meetings and events, people take the opportunity to praise those efforts. He said it was important for the University to demonstrate its support of the community financially, too, through the Giving Green Campaign.

Faculty and staff members who donated during the kickoff were eligible to win a variety of prizes through a random drawing. Winners were:

  • Liz Fitzgerald, academic affairs; Carol Hartley, languages and culture studies; and Mai Li Munoz, University advancement; won four complimentary tickets to the Renaissance Festival
  • Tim Rogers, University advancement, won a gift package consisting of an umbrella, ball cap, 49er jersey and Chartwells gift cards
  • Rick Ellis, facilities management, won a prize pack containing an umbrella, bag chair, 49er blanket and Chartwells gift cards
  • Sharon Horinka, University advancement, won free hair products and two $20 gift cards to the Orange Olive Hair Gallery
  • Alicia Trent, enrollment management, won four free passes to the Levine Museum of the New South
  • Cindy Fox, Belk College of Business, won a one-year personal shopping service from Lowes Foods
  • Phillip Brown, University advancement, won an athletics bundle, which included a mini football helmet, ball cap, Nike shirt and four season tickets to Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball
  • Beth Fischer, University advancement, won free access to restricted parking (gate card) for one academic year
  • Ray Galleno, business affairs, won the 42-inch Sanyo LCD flat-screen television

The Division for University Advancement also sponsored a bake sale to benefit the Employee Loan Fund; it generated more than $600 in contributions.