Weekly campus United Way drawings continue as book drive surpasses goal

Contact: Deanne Puca
Photo of five WMU students from Phi Epsilon Kappa fraternity holding children's books donated for the campus United Way Book-It drive.

Students from WMU's Phi Epsilon Kappa fraternity help collect books donated for the campus United Way Book-It drive.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Those vying for a prize of $30,000 toward the purchase of a new car have until Friday, Nov. 10, to donate to Western Michigan University's campus United Way campaign. Pledge forms must be received at the WMU Office of the President, Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo MI 49008-5202, by 5 p.m. The winner will be announced by the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region on Thursday, Dec. 14.

The campaign will continue to collect forms as it makes gains toward its $200,000 goal. It has reached close to 73 percent of this goal, gaining $145,000, and almost 28 percent of employee pledge forms have been returned. This year's campaign organizers have targeted a 10-percent increase in employee participation over last year's campaign, which tallied 32 percent of employee forms returned. WMU retirees have returned over 8 percent of their forms so far.

Weekly prize drawings

Weekly prize drawings continue on campus for gifts that include a Discovery Flight in one of the College of Aviation's state-of-the-art simulators, valued at $300; men's basketball tickets for the Dec. 2 game versus Oakland University; WMU spirit wear and gear; a football signed by head coach Tim Lester; and Millennium dining gift cards.

Lucky winners the third week of drawings included Jane Blyth, Haenicke Institute for Global Education, and Darrell Claeys, information technology, who each received a WMU swag bag, and Laura Van Zoest, mathematics, who received a Millennium gift card.

Employees who give any amount are eligible for the weekly prize drawings every Friday afternoon through Nov. 17. Names of eligible contributors whose pledge cards are returned to the president's office, Mail Stop 5202, by 5 p.m. the Thursday before each Friday drawing will be included.

Book drive

The campus "Book-It" campaign collected more than twice its goal of 1,000 new or gently used books with a total of 2,132 books donated. The drive will benefit students in kindergarten through the third grade and is part of a similar effort organized by the United Way of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region.

Direct questions to campaign organizers at wmu-united-way@wmich.edu.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.