Enthusiastic student-based fundraising is credited for helping boost the Cornell campus portion of the 2007 United Way of Tompkins County campaign surprisingly far above goals set by university organizers.

With gifts and commitments (as of Jan. 22) totaling $777,237, the Cornell campaign's chair had some accolades to hand out: "Our community has shown great leadership by its commitment to the United Way campaign and to the agencies that provide so many services to our faculty, staff and students and their families," said Stephen T. Golding, the university's Samuel W. Bodman Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration.

"Cornell's contribution represents almost 40 percent of this year's Tompkins County campaign, and we're thrilled to report that Cornell gifts are almost 10 percent over our projected 2007 goal," Golding said. "I am especially proud of our student leadership. Their enthusiasm for United Way was contagious, and their fundraising initiatives -- a first for the campus campaign -- played such an instrumental role."

The student role focused on two fundraising events, according to one organizer. Government major Jonathan E. Feldman '08, a student member of the United Way cabinet, worked with Greg Schvey, Hotel '09, and the athletics department to find a corporate sponsor. Perfect Screen Printers agreed to contribute to United Way for each student attending the first Big Red home football game of the season (Sept. 15). Then Feldman and Schvey used their marketing skills to publicize the opportunity to help United Way (and see Cornell beat Bucknell, 38-14).

Buoyed by their initial success (which raised around $3,000), Feldman enlisted Jason Beekman '08 and Allison Munoz '08 for another first, less than a month later. Eleven of Cornell's student a cappella groups joined forces with the student musical-theater troupe Anything Goes to sell some 800 tickets at $3 each for an Oct. 12 show in Bailey Hall.

"Planning is already under way to make events like these an annual, student-based contribution to future United Way campaigns," said Feldman, noting that some education is involved, as well: "Cornell students are very active in a lot of national, global and regional issues," he said. "But it is rare that we get a chance to learn about the needs -- and spread compassion -- in the place where we live for four years.

"We didn't realize," Feldman continued, "that there are lines at soup kitchens right here in Ithaca, for example."

"The full impact of programs currently being developed by Jonathan Feldman and the student campaign will not be known for years," said James A. Brown, president of the United Way of Tompkins County. But, he added, "These efforts are building new connections between the campus and community. [They] are valuable gifts of time, talent and in-kind support, the giving of self that makes these campaigns so successful."

Although the 2007 Cornell campaign surpassed its dollar goal of $700,000, participation so far is short of the hoped-for 20 percent of faculty and staff members, according to Cornell campaign leader Golding. "There's still time, whether you want to write a check or arrange for payroll deduction," he said, pointing to the campus campaign Web site: http://www.cornell.edu/unitedway/.