Several members of the Cornell University community are playing key roles in the 1998 United Way of Tompkins County campaign on and off campus. Their efforts, which started last spring, are aimed at raising $1.6 million this fall. About $500,000 of that will come from the Cornell campus campaign, which includes employees, retirees and students.

Susan H. Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, is chairing the United Way campaign on campus. Vice chair of the campus campaign is Mary George Opperman, vice president for human resources.

Thomas Livigne, manager of real estate at Cornell and a member of the board of directors of United Way of Tompkins County, is the general campaign chair for the countywide campaign.

Plans are under way to kick off the campaign this week. "We'll be doing so in a very unique way -- a Day of Caring that shines the spotlight on agencies and volunteers," Murphy explained. As many as 75 Cornell employees are expected to volunteer at various agency sites throughout Tompkins County for the second annual Day of Caring, Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The campus campaign cabinet comprises a cross-section of Cornell employees and students. They include: Patty Ard, executive staff assistant for Student and Academic Services; Eric Booth, a student in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning; Phil Dankert, librarian in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations; Michael Dickinson, university auditor in the Office of the Controller; John McKeown, associate director, Athletics and Physical Education; Catherine Murray-Rust, director of campus delivery for Project 2000; Chandra Nash, systems coordinator for Cornell Commitment; Janiece Bacon Oblak, assistant dean of admissions and financial aid and director of the Cornell Tradition; Frederick A. Rogers, senior vice president and chief financial officer; Judy Small, associate director of admissions; Patricia Snopkowski, associate audit director, Office of the Controller; Dennis Stein, employee outreach manager in the Office of Human Resources; David Stewart, director of community relations; Steve Thane, programmer/analyst for University Career Services; Laura Toy, director of college, unit and project development in Alumni Affairs and Development; and Latarsha Williams, a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Also serving on the campus campaign cabinet is Elizabeth Trapnell Rawlings.

Murphy said the United Way concept -- one organized way to raise money to support more than 100 local programs -- is an effective way to meet critical needs in the community.

"Last year, we raised $497,000 on campus to support programs that encourage health and wellness, support families, build knowledge and skills, promote self-sufficiency and help those in

need throughout Tompkins County," Murphy said. "More than 1,500 of the thousands of our neighbors and friends who benefit from the services of agencies and community councils supported by the United Way are Cornell faculty, staff, and students."

Murphy added, "The campus and communitywide campaigns offer faculty, staff and students the opportunity to support more than 100 programs that support people in our local communities."

Over the next several weeks, campus publications will provide information about how money is raised and put to use and how to make a donation that makes a difference, Murphy said. "We hope that information about United Way agencies and programs will help people understand the need and want to get involved and be a hero," she said.