MIT volunteer solicitors are launching the 2001 Community Giving at MIT campaign today by distributing information to employees at parking garages and other sites around campus. Because of the Halloween kickoff, this year's theme is "Giving is not a trick, it's a treat! Support the Community Giving at MIT Campaign."
The Institute's annual charitable giving campaign focuses on the charities funded by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, the MIT Community Service Fund (CSF), and other local health and human service agencies. Members of the MIT community are encouraged to make personal contributions to help charities whose work they feel is most critical. The campaign committee hopes to raise more than $375,000.
Professor of Chemical Engineering Kenneth A. Smith, campaign chair, emphasized the importance of increasing the number of employees who contribute. Donations go to local programs and agencies that help children, families, elders, the disabled, victims of domestic violence and the homeless.
Personalized pledge form packets will be sent to all MIT employees via interdepartmental mail. The campaign committee encourages people to fill in and return the forms to their department solicitors as soon as possible, or to send them directly to campaign headquarters in Rm 50-005. A list of appointed department solicitors may be found on the Community Giving web site at http://web.mit.edu/community-giving.
The pledge forms allow donors to give to United Way agencies, the CSF (which supports several Cambridge charitable organizations) or other local qualified 501(c)(3) human-services agencies of the their choice. Donors can opt for the payroll-deduction plan; a one-time gift using a personal check or credit card payment; or gifts of securities, property, stocks or other forms of planned giving.
During the campaign, various supporting events will be held, including an information fair and book sale on Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Stratton Student Center lobby. Proceeds from the fair will be given to the United Way and the CSF. The campaign's annual clothing drive will be held in December. Future articles in MIT Tech Talk will provide more information about these events.
Anyone with questions about the Community Giving at MIT campaign may contact Ted E. Johnson, charitable campaign manager, at tej@mit.edu, or Annmarie C. Foley at acameron@mit.edu or x3-7914.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on October 31, 2001.
