Robert Barker/University Photography

Ted Dodds, Cornell vice president and chief information officer and chair of the Cornell United Way Campaign, speaks at the campaign kickoff Oct. 2. Standing behind him is Vice Provost Judith Appleton.

About 80 Cornell staff and students gathered Oct. 2 for the kickoff of the 2015-16 Cornell United Way Campaign in Willard Straight Hall. Gary Stewart, director of community relations, announced this year’s Cornell goal of $750,000.

Stewart highlighted two aspects of the university’s campaign that often go unnoticed: Gifts to the United Way can be targeted to agencies in counties outside of Tompkins County, and many of those who benefit from agencies supported by the United Way are Cornell employees.

Student United Way campaign co-chair Elizabeth Joyce ’16 noted many students live in the local community, and they can do a lot while they are here, especially for an organization such as the United Way that addresses so many needs. She mentioned the two major fundraising events the student campaign hosts: A Cappella United, which was held in September, and the annual Duff Ball held each spring. Cornell’s student campaign raises about $30,000 each year and has been recognized nationally for its programming to involve students in giving to the United Way.

Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 quipped that it was a pleasure to be back in the Memorial Room, where he had given his first campaign speech – to be vice president of Cornell’s Interfraternity Council. There, he met the chair of the student United Way campaign who created the Duff Ball and interested Myrick in the United Way. Growing up in poverty, Myrick said, he learned that “big problems require collective solutions. … You need to work together.”

“That is the United Way,” he said, “standing together … contributing not just to one cause but to many.”

Echoing Myrick’s remarks, James Brown, president of the United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC), said the United Way brings many organizations together, both the agencies that help those in need and the local partner organizations that contribute to the operating costs of the UWTC so gifts from individuals go directly to those who need them.

Ted Dodds, Cornell vice president and chief information officer and chair of the Cornell United Way Campaign, noted three goals for this year’s campaign: communicating about the benefits brought about through the United Way; developing a large cohort of volunteers from across campus to help with the campaign; and providing Cornell faculty and staff the option to pledge online. Pledge cards will still be an option, he said.

With this year’s county goal of $2,012,638, Cornell’s goal of $750,000, if met, will represent 37 percent of the total funds raised for this year’s UWTC campaign.