This spring, local charities are going to receive the money promised in fall by UF faculty and staff.
The UF Campaign for Charities raised more than $1 million in donations for at least 95 local agencies during the annual fall campaign.
The campaign was created to consolidate fundraising for various charities into one campaign and to give faculty and staff the option to donate through payroll deduction, said Susan Crowley, director of the campaign and UF assistant vice president for community relations.
“I think our campaign is successful because of payroll deduction,” Crowley said, “but I also think it’s successful because we have something for everybody.”
Eligible groups to donate to include ones that feed the homeless, save the environment and fund research for disease treatment. To qualify, the organization must provide significant services in Alachua County and neighboring counties.
The recent campaign reached organizations like Operation Catnip, Bread of the Mighty Food Bank and the Alachua Conservation Trust.
Tom Kay, Alachua Conservation Trust executive director, said the campaign has raised more than $24,000 for the agency, which aims to protect natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources of North Central Florida.
“It’s an incredible program, and we are really grateful for it,” Kay said.
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 3/10/2015 under the headline “Charities collect donations from UF”]
