Daily Skiff

The Faculty and Staff Annual Campaign aims to surpass last year's record participation from faculty and staff to appeal to donors, said the Faculty Senate chair.

The percentage of faculty and staff giving is important because it looks good when donors see that employees give back, said Stuart Youngblood, Faculty Senate chair.

"It shows that the people that work here actually care," Youngblood said.

Last year, 65 percent of the faculty and staff participated, said Janine Kraus, director of the office of annual giving.

Each year, faculty and staff are asked to give a portion of their paycheck back to TCU through the Faculty and Staff Annual Campaign, which kicked off this year in conjunction with the Campaign for TCU, Kraus said.

Youngblood said he has given for very specific causes in the past. A few years ago, there was an opportunity for faculty and staff members to go to a 40-hour dispute resolution training course. While his department paid for him to go, a friend of his from another department could not get the funding.

He decided to make a donation for this professor to go.

"People's gifts make things happen," Youngblood said. "The annual fund is so flexible that it can pay for things the budget didn't allow for. It is a great resource to have."

Last year, the faculty and staff raised $302,164 from the Faculty and Staff Annual Campaign, Kraus said.

While Kraus did not have specific numbers, she said more staff members gave last year than faculty members. This year's campaign ends May 1.

This year, the faculty and staff have challenged one another to get 100 percent participation, said Darron Turner, assistant vice chancellor of student affairs.

There are 796 faculty members and 1,200 staff members, said Larry Kitchens, director of instructional services.

The purpose of the campaign is to raise money to supplement the operating budget in support of scholarships, financial aid, the library, student development, schools and colleges, research, faculty salaries and athletics, said Kenneth Janak, director of budgets and financial planning.

Employees can specify where they want their money to go or just give to the campaign in general. Options for giving include payroll deduction, an outright gift or giving online. Also, faculty and staff can include TCU in their estate plans, give a matching gift or encourage other employees to support the university, Kraus said.

Faculty and staff can give any amount.

Others say they are positive that whatever they give, it is going to a good cause.

"First, by giving back to the university where we work, we demonstrate in a positive way to others across the campus, as well as to friends of TCU, our commitment and support of this great university," Kitchens said. "Second, simply from an altruistic perspective, I personally feel better because I know my small gift is going to a worthy cause and will help TCU become a better place to provide a quality education and place to work."

June Koelker, dean of the Mary Couts Burnett Library, said she sees the fruit of her giving in the rare books the library is able to purchase, such as the copy of "Salome" by Oscar Wilde from the 1800s.

"I give back to the university because I fully support what the university does. I want to make my own contributions to the effort," Koelker said.

Former Fort Worth Mayor, Bob Bolen, senior adviser to the chancellor, said even though time is the most important thing anyone can give back to the university, it is necessary to give finances, too.

"I feel it is a real privilege for me to be here, and I'm willing to put in the finances and time," Bolen said. "I have been provided the tools to get my job done, such as an assistant and an office, so it is my obligation to give back."

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