Crownover offers to match gifts to United Way

1/6/2012

Deadline is Jan. 17

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

Members of the Rice community who have not yet contributed to this year’s United Way campaign now have an extra incentive to help Houstonians in need: As of Jan. 1, Rice Board of Trustees Chair Jim Crownover ’65 will match gifts from first-time donors 2-to-1, and he will match dollar for dollar any gifts from faculty and staff who donated to last year’s campaign but have not donated to this year’s campaign – up to a total of $25,000 – through Jan. 17.

He will also match 1-to-1 any additional contributions from employees who have already given to the campaign and would like to increase their gift by Jan. 17.

Right before the holiday break, the Rice Campaign for the United Way reached its $150,000 goal. Crownover decided to offer a matching gift of $25,000, just as he did for last year’s campaign, so that Rice can be even more supportive at a time when many in the local community are in great need of help.

“I am particularly thankful – and extremely proud – that I have the honor of leading an organization whose employees have such compassion for those less fortunate and who take the initiative to do something about it by contributing to the United Way,” Crownover said.

In the 17th week of the campaign, pledges and contributions total $154,442. The Social Sciences division leads in contributions with $18,279. The Engineering division is in a close second with $17,585, followed by the Natural Sciences division with $17,166. The Public Affairs division leads in overall participation with 94 percent.

Rice employees’ contributions to United Way not only help the entire Houston community, they also support the university’s Vision for the Second Century commitment to engage with the city. And by combining the resources of all Rice donors with the administration and expertise of United Way, the contributions have a greater economic impact.

Rice employees can make a pledge payable by payroll deductions spread over all paychecks in calendar (and tax) year 2012 by logging in to ESTHER (http://esther.rice.edu) and filling out the United Way form. To make a cash, check or credit card contribution for tax year 2012, complete, print and mail the pledge form found at www.rice.edu/unitedway. Rice’s campaign is scheduled to end Jan. 18.

For more information on the 2011 Rice Campaign for the United Way, visit www.rice.edu/unitedway.