HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

Community Gifts Campaign Offers Various Charity Options

The Community Gifts Through Harvard campaign has not only led giving in the Education Division of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay but has served as the model for an open workplace campaign. The University's commitment to providing options to employees for charitable giving has resulted in direct contributions of more than $3 million to some 900 charities over the past 10 years.

During the campaign, employees are given red and green pledge cards in order to process their gifts. The red cards are designated for gifts to the United Way, to which over half of Harvard employees choose to contribute. The green cards allow employees to designate charities of their choice. The charities range from medical research and international relief efforts to community human service organizations, churches, and college alumni funds. Gifts have been primarily targeted to Massachusetts agencies.

Campaign chair Jane Corlette, associate vice president for government, community and public affairs, has used the campaign as a planned giving system for many years. "I know I will be making charitable donations during the last quarter of the year, and the campaign is not only convenient for me, but it helps me feel part of a larger effort."

Many local charities have come to rely on the generosity of Harvard workers. The following charities have been the most consistently popular charities over the past 10 years: AIDS Action Committee, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Community Works, Oxfam America, Planned Parenthood, Rosie's Place, Salvation Army, and Shelter Inc.

Last year, the campaign raised $770,229, exceeding its goal by 6 percent. Harvard retirees contributed $18,382 and faculty emeriti contributed $17,999. Special gifts totaling $12,200 were given anonymously, not including gifts of stock given to the United Way.

Mary Ann Jarvis, campaign manager, credits the success of the campaign to choice: "Donors make informed choices and they feel good about giving. When they call our office, for the most part we help people find the information they need to make decisions. The decisions are personal and we respect that. What is important is that an opportunity is being provided for us to make a positive impact on our community, and certainly we are doing that."

The Community Gifts Through Harvard Campaign runs through the month of November. For more information, call 495-1598.