In a common-sense blending of town and gown, the 2007 Cornell United Way campaign was launched in tandem with Tompkins County's campaign at the Stephen E. Garner Annual Day of Caring at Stewart Park, Sept. 11. Cornell's goal this year is $700,000 with a particular emphasis on achieving 20 percent participation across the university. The county's campaign goal is $2 million. Cornell is traditionally the single largest contributor to the county campaign.

In his comments on the launch held in the large pavilion at Stewart Park, Cornell's United Way campaign chair Stephen Golding, the Samuel W. Bodman Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, recognized the extraordinary efforts of Jonathan Feldman '08, who spearheaded the first-ever Cornell undergraduate United Way campaign fund drive in 2006. This year, Feldman and co-organizer Greg Schvey, Hotel '09, have organized seven large fundraising events, starting with a "Kick-Off Classic" at Cornell's first home football game Sept. 15.

"For every student who attends the game, $1.50 will go to the United Way," Feldman said. "We'll also be having a super fan contest for the most school-spirited display -- including face paint and accessories -- and a giveaway for the winner's classmates in attendance."

Among the prizes are T-shirts and coupons. At later events in the year, including football and basketball games and an a cappella concert at Bailey Hall, Feldman and company will sponsor a hot tub giveaway to the sorority or fraternity boasting the most attendants, among other prizes, with a significant portion of event proceeds going to the United Way.

The 2006 Cornell campaign exceeded its goal of $660,000, raising more than $700,000 in pledges with a Cornell community participation rate of 16.6 percent.

United Way pledges can be paid through payroll deduction or with a check or credit card, and donors can designate that their pledges go to one of the Tompkins County agency's 44 organizations. For more information, visit United Way of Tompkins County's Web site at http://www.uwtc.org or Cornell's United Way Web site, where donations can be pledged online, at http://www.cornell.edu/unitedway/.