October 3, 2003

Student groups make United Way top project

Campaign kicks off as students Go Bananas

The student-sponsored "Go Bananas Dance-A-Thon" on September 5 successfully kicked off the fund-raising for Loyola's United Way campaign set to run October 6 ­ 17. The Black Student Union, the Student Government Association, and the University Planning Board sponsored the event to increase awareness of the United Way campaign and to get students to participate in an enjoyable, community-building fund-raiser.

Bea Forlano, SGA President, says she has made raising money for United Way a priority because of its "first hand involvement in agencies that Loyola students help with, such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters." She continues, "Loyola has a partnership with United Way and each year faculty, staff, and students donate a substantial amount of money, but the great thing about the dance-a-thon was the creative way students and faculty worked and played together."

University President Bernard P. Knoth, S.J., Provost Walter Harris, Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Eiseman, and other faculty members enjoyed the event along with the students and staff members. Faculty and staff members had the difficult task of judging the dancers. The students solicited items from local businesses for raffles and the grand prize, a trip for two during spring break, was awarded to Alexia Gonzales for dancing the longest, from 3:30 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m., Saturday morning.

This year, Knoth is serving as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the United Way of Greater New Orleans Area. He has been involved with United Way for the past six years as a member of the board and last year served as the chair of the college and universities group. Loyola and the other nine major educational institutions in the New Orleans area raised over $400,000 dollars last year. Of the group, Loyola was second in giving while only sixth in the total number of employees. Loyola's participation rate was almost 60 percent, also second in the university group. What is truly unique about the Loyola campaign is that Loyola students are the only students in the university group who have raised funds for United Way.

Watch for the campaign October 6 - 17. When donations are made to United Way, the funds are leveraged as a result of local "Cornerstone" companies who underwrite all administrative costs associated with the campaign. This means 100 percent of Loyola contributions go to local programs that help in the New Orleans community.

The United Way is a local autonomous organization that supports 61 health and human service organizations in our six-parish area. For more information on the United Way visit www.unitedwaynola.org.

Helen Ellis, co-chair of Loyola's 2003-2004 United Way campaign