At DIIA, It Rains "Pennies From Heaven"
This month DIIA staffers are sure to see a cheerful parade throughout all the Division offices as staff members Nancy Roberts, Dena Goodman, and Dawn Zimmaro trundle a bright red wagon carrying a large, plastic Coca Cola bottle around campus. They are promoting their "Pennies From Heaven" program to benefit the UT Austin Staff Employee Emergency Fund as part of the Hearts of Texas state employee charitable campaign.
DIIA’s Measurement and Evaluation Center campaign representative Nancy Roberts relates that she learned of the emergency fund at a UT Austin Town Meeting last year, and along with Dena and Dawn began to realize the potential for both helping our UT Austin family and building team spirit within the Division.
Believing that charity begins at home, Nancy and her cohorts made and sold baked goods and placed the proceeds in the bottle. Their drive met with such success that they decided to go Division-wide this year and take their show "on the road." At the end of the pledge drive, every DIIA staff member will have a chance to guess the amount of money in the bottle, and the winner will receive a basket of goodies, to be awarded at the DIIA staff luncheon.
Below is Bottle in one of his many traveling outfits. He is visiting Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson, accompanied by (standing, left to right) Dawn, Dena, and Nancy.
The Staff Employee Emergency Fund began several years ago when the University Staff Association (now the University Staff Council) raised funds to assist employees in need. According to Connie Deutsche, Director of the Employee Assistance Program, the project sat dormant until May 2001, when Kyle Cavanaugh became director of Human Resource Services. Cavanaugh charged the USC and UT Cares to come up with a proposal to put the funds to use for university staff.
After looking into similar programs at other large universities and working through legal issues, the two organizations officially opened the Emergency Fund in March 2003. The fund was featured in the Hearts of Texas Expo, and an anonymous panel comprised of staff from across campus was appointed to determine how the funds are distributed.
The fund provides limited financial assistance when staff members are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of a temporary hardship related to a specific emergency situation, such as the death of a family member, a fire, sudden serious illness, critical injury, etc. Over a dozen families were beneficiaries in the first year.
The level of donations will determine whether it will be possible to increase the maximum amount of money that can be distributed, so 2004 is a pivotal year for the fund. Projects such as "Pennies From Heaven" will go a long way in assisting fellow staff members get back on track after facing a catastrophic event.
To participate, choose Charity Code 228070 when giving to Hearts of Texas, or collect your pocket change to place in the heart-shaped baskets in your area. Nancy, Dena, Dawn, and the bottle will make the DIIA rounds once a week throughout October with their cheery red wagon. Nancy and other volunteers also plan to do some baking, so stay tuned! For more information, call Nancy at 232-2649.
contributed by Claudia Snowden