UO employees increase 2008 donations to Charitable Fund Drive

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Feb. 27, 2009) - Employees at the University of Oregon gave a total of $257,760 in 2008 to the Oregon Employees Charitable Fund Drive (CFD), a 7.29 percent increase from 2007. While donations to CFD were expected to be about the same as 2007, because of the economy, UO faculty and staff met the challenge to help those in need. The UO was number one among all participating agencies to give the most money this year.

The CFD was started in 1989 as a way for employees of state agencies and the Oregon University System to make charitable donations to Oregon nonprofit groups in areas such as arts, children, environment, health, housing, human services and social justice.

"UO employees have always been active in the Oregon Employees Charitable Fund Drive. But this year, with tougher economic conditions and more and more people in need, our faculty and staff made the commitment to give and help out a little more," said Mike Eyster, UO campaign chair and assistant vice president for student affairs and director of the University Health Center.

In 2008, 773 UO employees donated to the drive, representing more than 18 percent of all employees. In 2007, UO raised $240,236, a 3 percent increase from 2006.

Combined with other universities and state employees, the 2008 CFD was the most successful in its 19-year history, raising more than $1.2 million for Oregon nonprofits.

###