Durham Middle School students learn about college life during "School Days," one of the projects aided by the "Doing Good in the Neighborhood" campaign. Photo credit: Duke University Photography

Durham, NC - In difficult financial times, Duke faculty and staff giving increased 13 percent during the 2009 "Doing Good in the Neighborhood" campaign to a total of $554,642.

The employee giving campaign, which kicked off in September 2009, supports the Durham community through the Duke Community Giving options or through the United Way of the Greater Triangle.

In 2009, $289,052, or 52 percent of the total donations, was designated for the Duke Community Giving options, up from 44 percent in 2008. The remaining $265,590 was raised for United Way.

"Given the ongoing challenges in the economy, we are especially proud of the generosity of the Duke family," said Phail Wynn Jr., vice president for the Office of Durham and Regional Affairs.

Many of the Duke Community Giving options assist a host of local agencies supported by the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership and Duke University Health System. No administrative fees are deducted from the Duke Community Giving option; all contributions go directly to support local programs such as tutoring, after school programs and low-cost health care through community clinics.

Courtney Frankel, a physical therapist for the Duke Center for Living, was one of those donors who dug deeper into her pocket this year than in previous years. She contributed to the community health option of the community giving program because of her concerns for local residents without health insurance.

"I hope my contribution allows these people to get better care than they would have had without it," she said. "I feel like it is my responsibility to help others who have not been as fortunate as I, and I am happy to be able to do so," she said.

For more information about the programs supported by the Doing Good in the Neighborhood campaign or how you can get involved, visit community.duke.edu/employee_giving.