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United Way set to kick off 2008 campaign, reward donors

United Way begins with U -- that's the message KU's United Way committee is sending to the university community this year during the annual fundraising drive.

In addition to money for charities throughout the university and community, the 2008 United Way campaign is looking to raise participation on campus. This year's goals are $248,000 and an increase in participation. Last year, the campaign raised $248,087 through 580 givers. Of that total, $33,000 was raised by the Rock Chalk Revue, an annual fundraising performance organized by KU's fraternities and sororities.

This year's campaign runs from Oct. 1 to Dec. 12. On Oct. 1, a letter from the United Way committee will be sent to the homes of faculty and staff with an appeal to take part in the campaign. The letter will include an informational brochure, pledge form and return envelope. Rick Ginsberg, dean of the School of Education, is chair of the committee.

To encourage giving, the committee has arranged a series of drawings. Donors will be eligible for the following drawings and prizes: Oct. 17: Two tickets to University Theatre's "Street Scene" performances Nov. 7-9, 14 and 15, and two tickets to a KU football game with parking passes. Oct. 31: Two tickets to the Nov. 15 football game against Texas and two tickets to the University Dance Company performance Nov. 20 or 21 at the Lied Center. Nov. 14: One basketball signed by coach Bill Self, one group backstage tour of the Spencer Museum of Art and two tickets to Nov. 20 basketball game against Temple. Dec. 5: One Orange Bowl football signed by coach Mark Mangino, one group backstage tour of the Lied Center; and two tickets the Golden Dragon Acrobats performance at the Lied Center on March 25.

For more on the United Way campaign, contact Ginsberg at 864-4297 or ginsberg@ku.edu.

NOTABLE ALUMS:

Colonel George W. Korch Jr., who did post-graduate study in mammalian ecology at KU in the 1970s, is the commander of the Defense Department's U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. A researcher of medical defense against biological pathogens used in terrorism and warfare, he was recently appointed to the newly created Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board.