With just a few more days to go in the 2018 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employees Charitable Campaign, members of the UMass Medical School community who have not yet donated are encouraged to do so.
Every contribution, regardless of the amount, makes a difference. A contribution of $5 can pay for a meal, a book or a bottle of vitamins; a $10 contribution buys a shirt or school supplies; and $20 could mean a new pair of sneakers for a child or fresh haircuts for several homeless veterans, according to the United Way.
“The response has been tremendous,” said Kola Akindele, JD, MS, assistant vice chancellor for city and community relations. “We’re happy to report that some departments have already reached 100 percent participation.”
Everyone who pledges to COMECC by the close of the campaign will be eligible for raffle drawings. Prizes include restaurant and Hanover Theatre gift certificates, preferred parking spaces, cafeteria vouchers and the grand prize of a Fit Bit Charge 2.
Many choose to direct their donation to the UMMS North Quadrant Support Services, established last year to address socioeconomic barriers to learning that affect some Worcester Public School students and their families.
“Through UMass Medical School’s support of the North Quadrant, students will participate in community enrichment and classroom-based learning, and have technology opportunities that would not otherwise be available,” said Maura Mahoney, LISCW, manager of social emotional learning for the Worcester Public Schools. “Once again, UMass Medical School is living proof that it does take a village to raise a child.”
Hear more about the initiative from Akindele and Mahoney in this Voices of UMassMed podcast, and view the full list of more than 1,000 local, regional, national and international nonprofits accepting donations.
The campaign ends on Wednesday, Nov. 21. Donations can be made by logging on to https://www.umassmed.edu/COMECCDonate with usual UMMS login credentials.
Related stories on UMassMedNow:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employee Charitable Campaign kicks off
Worcester Public Schools and UMass Medical School unveil family support services initiative
