Partners in Giving surpasses goal

More than 9,600 employees collectively pushed the annual Partners in Giving charitable campaign well past the $2.82 million goal this month, donating $2,877,195 by Jan. 22.

That’s an increase of more than $112,000 over the previous year’s final yield, and additional contributions are expected to trickle in for several more weeks. It’s also a new record, surpassing the previous high set in 2004.

University and UW Hospital and Clinics employees donated almost 54 percent of the amount raised so far. State government employees donated more than 46 percent. The average gift was $297. The campaign is limited to employees who work in Dane County.

Each campaign contributor this year got a green “Giving Strong” plastic wristband. University employees who contributed also received complimentary vouchers from the athletic department for tickets to the Badger women’s basketball game against Purdue on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Kohl Center.

Campaign contributors and volunteers will be honored that day, and university officials will present a check at halftime to representatives of local charitable umbrella organizations that participated in the campaign.

Selected campaign volunteers will receive special awards during another public ceremony at noon on Tuesday, March 6, in the Assembly Chamber of the state Capitol, followed by a reception at 12:30 p.m. in the Assembly Parlor.

The 2006 Partners in Giving campaign raised money for more than 450 local, regional, national and international charities. Since its establishment in 1973 as the State Employees Combined Campaign, the annual effort has collected more than $47.5 million for charitable causes.