Jennifer Clutter first experienced the gratification of giving to the West Virginia University Foundation’s Campus Campaign in the late 1990s. It was then that she and her co-workers joined together to help in funding construction of a new, state-of-the-art lab within the School of Pharmacy.
“Find what you’re passionate about at the institution, and give something to that,” said Clutter, student services program manager in the School of Pharmacy. “No matter how small an effort, it can make a very, very huge difference.”
WVU faculty and staff now have that same opportunity to make a difference as the Foundation’s annual Campus Campaign gets under way this week through May 31.
The campaign theme is “Your Passion-Your University-Your Gift.”
“The goal of the Campus Campaign is to actively encourage each member of the University community to support areas of his or her interest,” said Kristen Shipp, assistant director of the Foundation’s University Fund and coordinator of the Campus Campaign. “Every employee has an important stake in the University’s success. Faculty and staff are keenly aware of the University’s ongoing and future needs, and contributing to the campaign is a concrete way of expressing belief in the importance of WVU, and commitment to a strong and vital University.”
After witnessing the impact her donations had on not only her department, but the entire West Virginia University community, Clutter began to seek new opportunities where her small contributions could continue to have a great impact. After helping a student to navigate through a personal crisis, she again used the Campus Campaign to establish an annual scholarship.
“It’s not by any means a fortune. It’s a small $500 scholarship, but I can easily afford $20 from each pay check to provide that scholarship,” Clutter said. “I look at it as a way to provide seeds for larger accomplishments that will come later.”
New to the list of programs that faculty and staff can contribute to this year is The House that WVU Built and the The Rack.
The House that WVU Built is a student initiated project in cooperation with Monongalia County Habitat for Humanity to build a house for a family from the Morgantown area.
“We would really like to raise money during the Campus Campaign, ” said Barbara Lingle, assistant visiting professor in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, who is overseeing The House that WVU Built project. “We hope everyone will at least take a look at us, and contribute. Because it really doesn’t matter how small or how large the gift is, every single dollar can make a difference.”
“The Rack” is a food pantry that provides assistance to students who are financially unable to purchase food. Other options available for funding are WVU Libraries, the Scholarship Fund of Children of Classified Staff, WVU Faculty and Staff Emergency Relief Fund, the Rosenbaum Family House and many more.
“However, donors can designate gifts to any WVU department, or as unrestricted to support the University’s greatest needs,” said Shipp. “Each gift goes directly to the fund designated by the donor. The WVU Foundation does not deduct any portion of the gift for operating costs and ensures that the full amount is used only for the purpose specified.”
Donations can be made by check, online, or through payroll deduction. All employees will be receiving materials about the campaign and further information on how to contribute this month. As a token of appreciation, all donors will receive a Campus Campaign window cling. Further, donors have the opportunity to be placed into several Campus Campaign donor recognition clubs.
For more information on the Campus Campaign, visit: www.TheCampusCampaign4WVU.org or call the WVU Foundation at 304-284-4000.
Established in 1954, the WVU Foundation is a private non-profit corporation that generates, receives and administers private gifts for the benefit of West Virginia University.
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CONTACT: Kristen Shipp, WVU Foundation
304-284-4016; kshipp@wvuf.org
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