As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, now is the perfect time for members of the UALR Campus Campaign steering committee to say “thank you” to those who pledged financial support or gave in-kind gifts to the annual campaign.

This year’s theme, “Our strength is in our numbers!” is also a perfect time to remember that every gift, like every employee, is vitally important, according to the 2014 Steering Committee Chair Aresh Assadi.

Assadi said the dollar amount is not nearly as important as the the percentage of faculty and staff who participate. “A gift of any size, even a dollar, is greatly appreciated,” he said.

When the Campus Campaign began in 2001, 6.5 percent of the campus participated. By 2013, that support had risen to 50 percent. Interestingly, outside donors often make a decision to support UALR based the level of faculty and staff support.

“My first thoughts about giving are hope and joy,” said Campus Campaign Ambassador, Sabrenna L. Rodgers-Lee, director of finance for the College of Social Science and Communication.

“(Donating) allows me to offer hope to someone or something other than myself. The joy comes from being able to just give. When we give, we become part of the big picture … All I have to do is my part,” she said.

UALR supporters, both on and off campus, may designate their money toward a particular program or scholarship. Donors may also designate that their money supports the general fund.

Any donation ensures students receive a great educational experience such as senior Angela Johnson, a philosophy and psychology major, whose travel expenses for study in Oxford, England, last spring was fully covered through the generosity of donors to UALR’s fund.

As of Thanksgiving week, 100 percent of employees in the following departments across campus have participated at in the annual campaign:

• Accounting Department
• Office of Alumni and Development
• Office of Communications
• Chancellor Leadership Corps
• Community Connection Center
• Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering
• International Student Services
• Department of Public Safety
• Department of Marketing and Advertising
• Office of Admissions
• Office of Campus Life
• Office of Government Relations
• Study Abroad
• Testing and Student Life Research
• Veterans Affairs

To learn more about the campaign and various ways to give, visit this link.

Employees may contact their office’s campaign ambassador or the Office of Development to donate or ask further questions. Employees may choose any area of campus or program to show their support.

Keep up with what’s happening; subscribe to UALR Now.