Yesterday's book fair at the Student Center raised more than $450 for the 1999 Community Giving at MIT campaign, which has also brought in $27,849 to date in pledges from 113 faculty and staff. Nine of those gifts are at the Leadership Giver level of $1,000 or more.
The book fair was run by Books Are Fun, a direct display marketer that sells hardcover books at up to 70 percent off the retail price, then donates 10 percent of its sales to the sponsoring organization, in this case Community Giving at MIT.
The campaign steering committee mailed pledge packets explaining the campaign's goals and participation guidelines to all Institute employees last week to coincide with the October 26 campaign kickoff date. President Charles Vest also sent a letter to faculty and staff encouraging their participation.
Institute Professor John Deutch, this year's campaign chair, urges everyone at MIT to make a donation.
"All members of the MIT community -- faculty, staff and students -- who are more fortunate than some of our fellow citizens in Massachusetts should make a generous contribution to improve social and health services in our community," said Professor Deutch.
Steering committee members hope to raise $340,000 this year, topping last year's total of $333,000 from 1,187 Institute employees, including 87 leadership gifts.
The campaign's new name -- it was formerly called the United Way campaign -- reflects a new philosophy at MIT of inclusion of other local nonprofit health and social service agencies not served by the United Way. Employees who wish to make donations to local organizations supported by the MIT Community Service Fund or to other local 501(c)(3) organizations can now do so using the pledge packets. As always, employees can still make pledges to the United Way or to specific United Way agencies.
Still ahead in the campaign is the clothing and nonperishable food drive running from December 6-17. About a dozen dropoff locations will be set up on campus for community members to donate clean, warm winter clothing, personal care items such as shampoo and combs, and canned and boxed foods.
Community members will be able to buy fresh baked goods to benefit the campaign at the annual bake sale, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 10 in Lobby 7 beginning at 10am.
Anyone with questions or comments about the Community Giving at MIT campaign may contact Elizabeth Mulcahy, campaign manager at ekm@mit.edu or Annmarie Cameron in the Office of Special Community Services at acameron@mit.edu or x3-7914.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on November 3, 1999.
