Partners in Giving breaks record

The 2004 Partners in Giving campaign was the most successful ever, organizers have reported.

By Jan. 31, the annual charitable fund-raiser had yielded $2,786,211 in contributions, more than 103 percent of the $2.7 million goal and $82,000 higher than the previous record, set in the 2001 campaign.

University employees pledged $1,315,717, while employees of UW Hospital and Clinics pledged $147,030, a combined increase of $165,219, or almost 13 percent, over the previous year. The number of university and UW Hospital and Clinics donors rose nearly 740 to 4,677, a 19 percent increase.

Stepped-up efforts by the campaign coordinating committee and other university volunteers, together with special promotions offered by the athletic department, helped kindle new interest in the campaign across the campus.

University contributors and campaign volunteers will be recognized Sunday, Feb. 13, in the Kohl Center at special festivities during the women’s basketball game against Michigan State.

Partners in Giving is the annual charitable workplace campaign for all state government, university and UWHC employees in Dane County.

The 2004 campaign raised money for more than 430 local, regional, national and international charitable organizations. Since its inception in 1973 as the State Employees Combined Campaign, contributions have exceeded $41.8 million.