VCU news

By Michael Ford
University News Services

The 2003 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is officially underway, and VCU and VCU Health System employees are encouraged to once again be leaders among state agencies to contribute to humanitarian, environmental, and health and human service charities through the annual giving program.

In the last four years, the combined campaigns of VCU and VCUHS employees have contributed nearly $1.2 million dollars to the CVC. In 2002, the average employee contribution was $200, nearly $30 more than the previous year.

"It is important that we all show we care about our community," said Dr. Eugene P. Trani, VCU president and president and chair of the VCU Health System. "Last year we were second among all state agencies and that was at a time when there were no salary increases. It shows that our employees care and I'm confident they'll do the same thing this year."

According to state CVC guidelines, 100 percent of designated contributions go to the charity or charities indicated. More than 1,000 charities have been approved to participate in the campaign.

"Service to the community is part of our mission and the two-month Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is really just an extension of that mission," said Dr. Sheldon M. Retchin, vice president for health sciences and chief executive officer of the VCU Health System. "Supporting many of the charities in the CVC directory will directly and indirectly benefit our mission and our patients."

Pledge cards and CVC directories of charitable organizations already have been distributed to more than 11,000 employees on both campuses. Employees may make contributions using cash, check, credit card or payroll deduction. Questions about making a contribution should be directed to campaign associates, 200 designated university and health system employees who have been trained to provide answers about pledge cards, directories and charities.

"Part of being a good citizen is contributing to organizations and to programs that may not benefit you directly but benefit the community at large," said Dr. Henry G. Rhone, vice provost for student affairs and enrollment services. "Many of these organizations come into play in disasters and also in individual circumstances. And we just don't know when the turn may be ours to benefit from some of these agencies. I think it is important to be a part of building them."

A new charitable program was approved after the directories were printed. The CVC code for the Hurricane Isabel Relief Fund is 3901. Final damage assessments for the hurricane are still being made, but it has been estimated that Isabel will be the most costly storm in the history of the Commonwealth. Donations to the HIRF will be distributed to Virginians with the guidance of local recovery task forces that are based in affected communities. The fund will operate under the auspices of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Year after year, the Massey Cancer Center and the Hospital Hospitality House have been among the top five charities employees of VCU and the VCUHS have designated to receive contributions. A vital resource for cancer research, clinical trials and treatment, VCU's Massey Cancer Center is one of only 60 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers in the U.S. and one of the country's leading research and clinical institutions. Located in a former downtown hotel and financed through private donations, the Hospital Hospitality House provides overnight accommodations and kitchen facilities to the families of local hospital patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospital volunteers originally founded the non-profit HHH in 1984.

In 2002, the combined campaign of VCU and the VCU Health System contributed $258,000 and ranked second among all state agencies. State employees overall contributed $3.2 million dollars to the 2002 CVC.

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign runs now through Nov. 30.

Additional information about the VCU/VCUHS combined campaign may be found online at www.vcu.edu/cvc.