Published: Jan. 29, 2002

Employees at the University of Colorado at Boulder pledged more than $140,000 to the 2002 Colorado Combined Campaign, the largest amount contributed since the program's inception 14 years ago.

The CU-Boulder pledges exceeded this year's goal by more than $10,000.

Since the drive for charitable agencies began in 1988, CU-Boulder has contributed more than $1.5 million, making it the state's biggest contributor.

"I am extremely proud of our campus' record-setting contribution this year," said CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Byyny. "In light of everything that happened this past year, it shows great compassion and a strong commitment to helping those in need."

" 'Compassion in Action' has proven to be an appropriate slogan for the CCC 2002 campaign," said Jane Gray Smith, the Office of Community Affairs' lead coordinator for the Boulder campus CCC campaign. "CU-Boulder faculty and staff members dug deeply into their pockets to support Colorado's charitable organizations and brought our total commitment to about $20,000 over last year's total."

Contributing to CU-Boulder's success were 100 volunteers from departments throughout the campus who distributed information packets and solicited CCC donations.

"One reason for the campaign's success is the fact that employees can arrange for monthly payroll reductions throughout the year instead of making a lump sum contribution," Smith said. "If people donate only $10 a month, that's $120 a year, which can really add up. There are more than 650 charitable organizations from which employees can choose to receive their contributions."

Of the other CU campuses participating in the CCC campaign, the Health Sciences Center pledged $125,000, CU-Denver pledged $50,000 and CU-Colorado Springs pledged $18,000.

The statewide 2002 Colorado Combined Campaign received pledges totaling more than $1.4 million in contributions, approximately $50,000 shy of the goal.