Employee Giving Campaign Begins

The annual Doing Good in the Neighborhood campaign, organized by Duke's Office of Durham and Regional Affairs, has begun, and by the end of the campaign in December, the organizers hope that at least 5 percent of Duke's workforce will have participated.

The campaign invites Duke faculty and staff to choose how their gifts make a difference in Durham and the Triangle region by directing their donations to any of six categories: Schools, Youth, Neighborhoods, Health, Community Care Fund and United Way of the Greater Triangle.

"We know Duke employees give generously of their time and treasure to support our community," said Phail Wynn Jr., vice president for Durham and Regional Affairs at Duke. "Through the Doing Good in the Neighborhood campaign, our collective gifts make a real impact in Durham and the region."

Last year, 935 Duke University and Duke University Health System employees gave nearly  $590,000 to local schools, neighborhoods and non-profits through Doing Good in the Neighborhood. The goal for the 2011-12 campaign is to increase participation to 1,289 employees - about 5 percent of Duke's workforce. That would mean 354 new donors who support the campaign at whatever level they can afford.

To encourage increased participation, the two departments with the highest percentage of employee participation - one from the university, one from the health system - will receive a free lunch celebration for the department staff and faculty. The lunch is part of the Doing Good in the Neighborhood Giving Challenge, which rewards departments with the highest levels of employee participation. During the campaign, there will also be weekly raffles for participating employees. 

Bill LeFevre, executive director of Duke Gardens, encouraged his colleagues from all across Duke to join him in giving to the campaign at whatever level they can manage. 

"We depend on our neighbors in Durham to help make this the great community it is, and we as Duke employees have a responsibility to reach out to the less fortunate and lift everyone up a bit," LeFevre said. "If it means a dollar a week, give at whatever level you can give. And if you can do more, and are inclined to do more - do more."

For more information about the campaign, including the newly launched Duke-Durham Leadership Giving Society, visit the Doing Good in the Neighborhood website. A playlist of short videos of Duke leaders sharing their passion for Doing Good in the Neighborhood is also available at Duke on Demand.