SU Community Raises $187,000 for United Way

SU Community Raises $187,000 for United WayJanuary 30, 2003Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

Syracuse University faculty, staff and students raised $187,000 for the United Way of Central New York during the University’s 2002 charity campaign. The donations exceeded the campaign goal by almost 20 percent.

“Especially in difficult economic times, local agencies that are supported by the United Way genuinely need our help,” says David Smith, vice president for enrollment management and chair of the University’s 2002 campaign. “The generosity of faculty, staff and students this year has made a dramatic statement about SU’s role in our community. I am proud to have been involved with the campaign and I thank everyone who has joined in making it a success.”

One of the campaign highlights was the presentation of the United Way of Central New York’s 2002 Exceptional Campaign Champion award to Susan Germain, event coordinator for SU’s Special Events Office. Germain has coordinated the University’s United Way campaign for the past seven years. The award was presented in December, during the organization’s annual Candlelight Breakfast at the Wyndham Hotel. The event recognizes the contributions of the United Way of Central New York’s employee campaign coordinators, whose creative energies ensure successful campaigns within businesses and organizations throughout the Central New York region.

“With so many worthy candidates, choosing an Exceptional Campaign Champion was difficult,” says Maria Hudson of the United Way of Central New York. “But time and time again, Susan Germain has led SU’s campaign with an exceptional level of dedication and commitment. From dog shows to Dollar Days, to Curry Cook-offs and even cookbooks featuring campus celebrities, Susan approaches each United Way campaign with unmatched enthusiasm. Congratulations to Susan and SU on a job well done.”

Germain earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from SU’s School of Management in 1977 and worked as director of the University’s development services from 1978-1983 before taking a position with the Crouse Irving Memorial Foundation. She returned to SU in 1996.

The University’s 2002 United Way Campaign featured a variety of fun activities that were designed to generate enthusiasm for and raise awareness of the United Way. Events ran the gamut from the wacky to the delicious, culminating with the University-wide bake sales on Election Day last November. Among the more wacky events were the “Unusual Slipper Contest” in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications’ second annual Dog Show.

In the “Unusual Slipper Contest,” a $2 donation enabled faculty, staff and students who work in Crouse College the privilege of wearing their favorite bedroom slippers for a day. A $1 donation allowed non-slipper wearers to vote for the wackiest slippers. The winner was Erica Blust, VPA director of communications, who sauntered around in Grinch slippers. A close runner up was Jo Giacovelli, VPA administrative specialist, who donned a pair of “Beavis and Butthead” foot coverings.

Pedigree was no problem at the second annual Newhouse Dog Show last fall, when 15 dogs of all shapes and sizes and their owners competed in categories that included the most original costume, best mirror image, pet tricks and Best in Show. The tiniest competitor was Paulie, a 13-week-old Boston terrier owned by Dan Lowe of Faculty Computing and Media Services. The largest was Dylan, a Newfoundland owned by the Newhouse School’s David and Shelly Coryell. The Best in Show award went to the incredible German Shepherd Zena Warrior Von Zues, owned by Diana Halloran.

“Zena was an amazing dog,” says United Way area chairperson Audrey Burian, administrative secretary in Newhouse. “She could do a high five and high ten, sit, stay, heel and fetch-all with simple hand commands. It was very impressive to watch.”