The University’s annual employee giving campaign benefiting the United Way of Central New York kicks off Monday, Oct. 19 and runs through Friday, Dec. 11. This year, the campaign invites faculty and staff to think broadly about what it means to give, whether that looks like a payroll pledge, a departmental trivia contest or a box of new children’s books.

For more than a century, the United Way of Central New York has brought the community together to meet local needs. Today, it partners with more than 35 nonprofit agencies across the region and every dollar raised stays in Central New York. This year, the need is significant: In Onondaga County, nearly 1 in 5 children live in poverty, and one in four households are considered ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Through its partners, the United Way connected 34,509 callers to essential services through the 211CNY hotline and provided 632 Syracuse City School District students with reading support through Book Buddies.

“Every one of us knows someone in Central New York who is working hard and still stretching to cover the basics,” says Jenny Dombroske, the University’s executive director of community engagement. “Alongside neighbors facing long-term poverty, there are working families who can’t make ends meet. No single organization can solve problems this complex. But we are in this together.”

The United Way has shared that its annual campaign revenue has declined by an average of 11% per year over the past five years even as demand for food, housing, youth and mental health services continues to grow. Because funding for partner agencies is now tied more directly to what the annual campaign raises, every contribution, of any size or kind, helps shape the support available to local programs.

Organizers recognize that many employees face financial pressures of their own and that a pledge may not be possible for everyone, but there are other ways to take part. For those who are able, a voluntary pledge through the United Way’s ePledge platform remains one of the most impactful ways to give. Employees may make a one-time gift or a recurring donation through payroll deduction each pay period. University retirees are also invited to participate. Paper pledge cards are available from the Office of Community Engagement (OCE) at oceed@syr.edu or 315.443.4137.

“Leaders set the tone for what a department values,” says Terence Lau, dean of the University’s College of Law and co-chair of this year’s campaign. “When supervisors take part in the United Way campaign themselves and make room for their teams to get involved, it tells everyone that caring for our neighbors in Central New York is part of who we are at Syracuse University.”

Departments could host a trivia contest with a small donation to play, organize a bake sale or raffle or challenge another unit to a friendly competition. Teams can also collect items for the United Way’s community drives, including the CNY Care Package Project (Oct. 1–Nov. 22) and the CNY Children’s Book Drive (Nov. 1–Dec. 13), which gathers more than 6,000 new books for children and teens. Those who would like to give their time can find opportunities through VolunteerCNY or become a Book Buddies reading tutor.

Departmental events held at any point during the 2026–27 academic year count toward the University’s campaign, and OCE will also host the United Way for a collection event at a home men’s basketball game in the JMA Wireless Dome this season.

“By serving on the planning committee for the United Way Campaign events at SU Libraries, I have seen firsthand the way that our staff and our community come together year after year to support the work that United Way does,” says Kristin Jeter, access services librarian and co-chair of this year’s campaign. “The more that we can each be involved, and the more that our campus community can be involved, the greater our impact can grow to support United Way.”

As the United Way puts it, “Alone, you do what you can. United, we do more.” Whether you pledge, host, collect or volunteer, together as One University we can make a lasting, positive impact in our community through our collective support of the United Way of Central New York.