United Way campaign challenges contributors

Mascots took the field during last weekend’s football game between KU and the University of Missouri to announce the “Challenge for Change” on behalf of United Way. On Oct. 15 in Lawrence and Oct. 4 in Columbia, students on campus will collect change for their local United Way. Contributed

Their collection is rapidly growing, but KU United Way campaign fund-raisers show no sign of slowing down.

Already $139,039 has been raised for the KU campaign, placing contributions several thousand dollars ahead of this time last year. With almost $86,000 left to raise to meet this year’s goal, October will be a busy month for fund-raisers.

The campaign kicks off its second full month with the law school’s Ipsa 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 4. The race will begin and end in the parking lot by the Burge Union.

This is the fourth year for the race, which “has proven a fun tradition for the law school,” said Steve McAllister, dean of law at KU and past president of the KU United Way Committee.

The race will begin at 8 a.m., with registration starting at 7:30. Runners, joggers and walkers are welcome to participate. The entry fee is $15 and includes a T-shirt. Male and female winners and runners-up will receive prizes. Kelli Colyer, a second-year law student and organizer of the event, said that 45 runners already have registered, and more are expected to join on race day.

The event is sponsored by the Student Bar Association. For more information on registration, call 864-5584.

The United Way campaign will continue with a new event on Oct. 15. The Challenge for Change, a fund-raising competition between KU and the University of Missouri, encourages faculty, staff and students to contribute change and small bills to stations at Wescoe Beach or in front of the Kansas Union between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. At the end of the day, the contributions will be counted, and a winner will be declared.

“We created this drive as a fun way to increase student involvement and to increase their awareness of the United Way and its services to the community,” said Kaelyn Fox, undergraduate representative on the United Way committee and co-director of the Center for Community Outreach. “In our minds this event will have reached its goals if the United Way is able to recognize an impact made from the KU students.”