Monday, November 17, 2008
Every week, 9-year-old Aidan Easley benefits from donations made to United Way. He was matched with two Big Brothers in July, and they have done anything from going to a pumpkin patch for Halloween, playing video games or hanging out at a downtown coffee shop.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County receives money from United Way of Douglas County’s annual fund-raising campaign. The University also holds the 2008 KU United Way campaign, which raised $197,000 since it launched in October, said Kelly Stazyk, KU Bookstores marketing coordinator and member of the KU United Way campaign committee.
Aidan’s mother, Molly Easley, Kansas City, Kan., graduate student, said she applied for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County to give Aidan an opportunity to spend time with an older male.
“I think the program fosters his self-esteem. He can hang out with somebody who he thinks is cool,” Easley said. “He looks at them as his role models.”
United Way of Douglas County has pooled and provided resources for local charitable organizations since it was formed in 1941, when it was known as the Community Chest. Erika Dvorske, president and CEO of United Way of Douglas County, said the University had been involved in the organization from the beginning. She said this year the Douglas County campaign set a goal to raise $1.72 million, asking for donations from local companies, school districts and individuals. She said the University’s campaign was one of the largest contributors.
Stazyk said the goal of the 2008 KU campaign was to raise $248,000 and increase the number of donors from last year. Stzayk said the campaign asked for donations from staff and faculty because most students didn’t have the financial resources to contribute. As of Nov. 6, the campaign has raised 80 percent of its goal, she said.
Colleen Gregoire, vice president and campaign manager of United Way Douglas County, said a successful United Way campaign would make a stronger and healthier community. It would also benefit some KU students, such as Molly Easley, through local charitable organizations.
Gregoire said the success of the United Way campaign meant there were agencies that could serve the needs of those students. The United Way campaign supports scholarships for childcare, counseling from headquarters when life gets too stressful and educational opportunities through the Red Cross, among other things, she said.
Easley said she works on her homework while Aiden spends time with his Big Brothers. She said that 30 years ago it would have been almost impossible for a woman to raise a child and go to school, but society today had become more open to students like her. She enjoyed raising her son and being a student, though she said it could be challenging sometimes.
“Even though it’s difficult to both raise a child and be a student, it gives me an opportunity to set an example,” she said.
Donations for the United Way campaign can be pledged through the Web site, unitedwaydgco.org, through causes listed on Facebook, such as the United Way of Douglas County Cause, or by calling United Way of Douglas County at (785) 843-6626.
— — Edited by Ramsey Cox
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