Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is extended until Dec. 14

By Michael Ford
University News Service

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign has been extended until Dec. 14 to provide additional time for employees to turn in pledge cards.

The CVC is the annual giving program that encourages Virginia state employees to contribute to humanitarian, environmental, and health and human service charities. The combined campaign for VCU and the VCU Health System began in October.

According to the latest figures, 1,230 employees from the university and the health system have contributed nearly $258,430 – a $35,150 increase compared with the same period last year.

“Our co-workers have demonstrated year after year their willingness to support charitable causes,” said Debra M. Fitzgerald, VCU Human Resources and CVC co-chair. “Employees have been very responsive to requests to assist the hurricane victims. But I also hope they will remember the local charities that provide needed assistance in the communities where we live and work.”

More than 1,100 charities have been approved to participate in the campaign, and the list includes five that are affiliated with the university and the health system: the Loftis Memorial Bereavement Fund; the VCU-Carver Partnership; the Virginia Mentoring Partnership; the Hospital Hospitality House; and the VCU Massey Cancer Center.

VCU and the VCU Health System combined campaign raised a record $437,340 in 2004, surpassing the previous year by $71,000. As a result, the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management presented the health system and university combined campaign with a CVC Pinnacle Award for its best campaign ever.

“The 2004 campaign made us all so proud, but I think we can improve on it, “said Deanna Lacy, Human Resources, VCU Health System and CVC co-chair. “I hope that co-workers who still want to support a charity will fill out their pledge cards and turn them over to campaign associates. Campaign associates need to submit final reports by Dec. 14.”

Replacement pledge cards are available. Employees with questions about making a contribution or acquiring a new pledge card should contact the campaign associate for their area.

To learn more about the combined campaign, go to www.vcu.edu/cvc/index.html.