OU community exceeds All-University Fund Drive goal of $222,000

By Katie Land, news editor

The Oakland University community opened their hearts and their wallets this holiday season, making commitments of more than $222,000 through the annual giving campaign, the All-University Fund Drive.

A total of 470 current and retired faculty and staff contributed to Oakland, United Way for Southeast Michigan and the Black United Fund of Michigan, supporting more than 150 campus departments. Many OU scholarship funds received a boost as well, raising an additional $65,978 to be dispersed between 29 scholarships.

“Time and again, OU employees have shown evidence of their deep-felt support for Oakland and its surrounding community through their personal giving, and this year is no exception,” said Susan Goepp, vice president of University Relations. “Even in the midst of a very challenging economy, the OU family continues to respond. The support of our faculty, staff and retirees for AUFD sets a strong example for our alumni and friends to follow, and I'm proud to work with such dedicated colleagues."

The AUFD campaign has been steadily growing in support since 2002. Chaired by Sayed Nassar, director of OU’s Fastening and Joining Research Institute, Cathy Cheal, assistant vice president for e-learning, and Pat Nicosia, retired director of Budget and Funding, this is the third year in a row that comparable funds have been raised, with 2009-10 seeing an increased number of retired givers.

Many people were inspired to give this year as a result of AUFD’s focus on OU students and on generating additional scholarship support, according to Starr Cornell, OU’s director of annual giving. An additional incentive was University President Gary Russi’s continuing offer to match gifts to the university for 50 cents on the dollar.

“There is a vibrant tradition of philanthropy here, and this year was another expression of that strong philanthropic spirit,” Cornell said. “The OU community is special because people value taking an active role—adding their time, energy, and resources to the things that they care deeply about. Many of us see AUFD as an opportunity to step out from behind our desks and make a collective difference.”

Special acknowledgements go to Virinder Moudgil, university provost, who worked to raise support for the Sharon Wilhelm Fund and Julie Voelck, dean of the library, whose promise to match up to $1,000 in contributions to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning and Ally Fund resulted in raising an additional $2,363.

The AUFD Celebration will take place from 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, January 28, in the Oakland Center Gold Rooms.

For more information or to make a gift, visit the AUFD Web site at oakland.edu/aufd.