Jason Koski/University Photography

United Way co-chairs KyuJung Whang, vice president for facilities, left, and University Librarian Anne Kenney, sort items at the 11th annual Stephen E. Garner Day of Caring, Sept. 20.

Jason Koski/University Photography

Cornell volunteers Karen Brown, left, and Beth Kunz pause from sorting donations.

Taking up all of the table space in the large pavilion at Stewart Park, a record 14,250 pounds of nonperishable food, personal care items, and pet and school supplies were collected for the 11th annual Stephen E. Garner Day of Caring, Sept. 20. The donations were given to 17 food pantries and community organizations for distribution throughout Tompkins County.

More than 100 volunteers helped sort these goods, including more than 30 staff members from Cornell, many of whom serve as United Way ambassadors from the university’s colleges and units.

The Day of Caring traditionally kicks off the year’s United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) campaign. James Brown, president of the UTWC, announced that the 2013-14 UTWC goal is $2,088,000. Annually, Cornell staff, faculty and students contribute nearly 40 percent of the county’s campaign goal with their gifts to the United Way. This year, Cornell’s goal is $815,000.

“This is a great turnout, with more volunteers than ever before,” said KyuJung Whang, vice president for facilities and co-chair of the Cornell campaign, after the event. “The food and supplies drive items, I am told, amount to about a ton more than we have ever collected. I know how hard everyone worked to get the boxes out there and get the word out to people, and I was so encouraged to see boxes overflowing all around campus.”

A Cappella United, Sept. 27

Cornell’s a cappella groups will perform at a benefit concert at Bailey Hall, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. All proceeds benefit the United Way of Tompkins County and are part of the 2013 Cornell Student United Way campaign. Tickets are $9 at BaileyTickets.com. See ACU on Facebook.

In his remarks during the noontime program, Brown thanked Cornell’s Division of Alumni Affairs and Development for making UWTC a part of this year’s Homecoming events and announced the visit of Touchdown, the Cornell Big Red Bear, who took time from Homecoming events to attend the Day of Caring event.

He also thanked Christina Roberti ’14 and Samuel Coleman ’15, campaign co-chairs for the Cornell Student United Way Campaign, for their work on the upcoming A Cappella United Concert Sept. 27.

Brown introduced the first video that UWTC has produced, which highlights specific individuals in the local area, including a former Cornell staff member and Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09, whose lives were changed by the United Way.

Said University Librarian Anne Kenney, Cornell United Way co-chair: “I am blown away by the outpouring of support by the community and by the variety of items they have donated. The video is very moving – it personalizes the results of giving to the United Way.”

Cornell campaign gifts can be unrestricted or designated to go to a number of local health and human services or to such programs as the three grant programs now available for nonprofit organizations in Tompkins County: Hunger and Food Security; Youth and Philanthropy; and the Ithaca College Student United Way.

Gifts can also be designated to United Way campaigns in other counties. Pledge cards will be distributed in October.