University and other state employees with a charitable itch to scratch will now be able to do so, thanks to the annual installment of the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, which commenced yesterday at the University. After University employees donated a record-breaking amount last year through the CVC, those involved with the campaign are hoping the University can repeat its success.
The campaign, according to CVC co-chair Jim Fitzgerald, provides a platform in the workplace for state employees' to make donations to over 1,250 participating charities. The campaign is overseen by the University's Office of Community Relations.
Fitzgerald noted that the large number of available charities makes finding a charity that suits an employee's interests an effortless process. He also said employees interested in learning more about individual charities can do so online at the campaign's Web site.
Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato, who is serving for the second consecutive year as the campaign's honorary chair, added that the large number of participating charities concentrates the process into one installment, thereby reducing the effects of "donor fatigue." Additionally, he said, because charity is a very individual matter, the more charities that are offered, the more people will give.
"It's our annual solicitation of employees to benefit literally hundreds of charities," Sabato said. "There are truly some marvelous choices, for whatever one's priorities are."
While Fitzgerald emphasized that the campaign in no way encourages participants to choose one charity over another, Sabato said he believes one of the options offered for the first time this year may be particularly popular -- the Virginia State Employee Assistance Fund.
"It helps state employees that have fallen on hard times, are in a credit crunch or have special needs," Sabato said. "It's a new idea that I think will be appealing to a lot of people."
Last year, Fitzgerald said, the University raised nealry $815,000, making it the leading Commonwealth institution in giving. Sabato said the money raised in 2006 amounted to a new giving record that easily surpassed the expected University contribution. With this in mind, Sabato added, he is hoping the University can rise to the top again.
"We have so much and we can give back," Sabato said. "You know, Thomas Jefferson believed strongly in the importance of private charity."
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