UM United Way Launches Campaign to Help Fund Local Groups

Pre-school children display free books they received through the Lafayette County Literacy Council, one of the many programs funded by the United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County. Submitted photo

The United Way of Oxford is asking the University of Mississippi community to give any donation possible – large or small – to help fund 25 programs and two community coalitions in Lafayette County.

The university’s annual United Way campaign officially kicked off Wednesday (Sept. 26) with a goal of raising at least $140,000 of the United Way’s $525,000 communitywide goal.

“No donation is too large or too small in order to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others,” said Kurt Brummett, executive director of United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County. “Every dollar received is an investment in the LOU community and enables our organization, as well as our program partners and community coalitions, to touch every age group and demographic within Oxford and Lafayette County.

“We are always looking to add to our outstanding local United Way team as we could not advance our mission without our donors, partners, volunteers and advocates who give of themselves in order to help those in need.”

Ninenty-nine percent of the money raised for United Way stays in Lafayette County to help fund 22 program partners and two community coalitions:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi
• CASA of Lafayette County
• Doors of Hope Transition Ministries
• Exchange Club Family Center
• Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi
• Girl Scouts Heart of the South
• Good Food for Oxford Schools
• Gordon Community and Cultural Center
• Horizons at the University of Mississippi
• Interfaith Compassion Ministry
• Lafayette County Literacy Council
• Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library
• Leap Frog Program
• LOU Saves
• LOU-Home Inc.
• North Mississippi Kidney Foundation
• North Mississippi Rural Legal Services
• Oxford Community Market
• Oxford-Lafayette Habitat for Humanity
• Southern Recovery Advocacy
• Special Olympics Mississippi – Area IV
• Three Rivers Planning and Development District.

“Similar to previous years, all UM employees will receive a mail-out via campus mail related to the UM United Way campaign,” Brummett said. “We look forward to initiating what we hope will be a very successful campaign year after a difficult 2017-18.”

Ole Miss accounts for about 30 percent of the community fundraising goal.

“Mail-outs will also be sent to UM retirees, whose giving counts toward the UM campaign total as well,” Brummett said. “The mail-outs typically are sent in October or early November.”

In terms of ways to give, university employees can contribute via payroll deduction, direct giving – such as check, cash, credit/debit card or bank draft – or other means.

To donate online, Ole Miss employees and retirees can go to http://www.unitedwayoxfordms.org/um  to complete their contributions to the 2018-19 campaign. Employees and retirees also can text-to-donate in support of the campaign by texting UM2018 to 41444 and then completing the donation online.

Committee members encourage university employees to participate in Fair Share, Associate or Leadership giving plans. Fair Share givers contribute one hour’s wages each month to the United Way. Associate givers donate $250 to $499. Leadership givers contribute at least $500.

The UM campaign team’s goal is to have all pledge forms submitted by the end of the year or early January 2019. However, contributions are accepted on an ongoing basis as United Way seeks to advance education, health and financial stability throughout the LOU community.

For more information, contact Brummett at 662-236-4265 or at Kurt@unitedwayoxfordms.org.

By Edwin B. Smith