United Way Honors Duquesne Among Top 100 Campaigns

The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania recognized Duquesne as a Bronze Circle awardee as well as one of its “Top 100 Campaigns” for 2017 during its June 13 Report to the Community event.

Thanks to the generous support of the Duquesne community, this year’s United Way campaign total topped out at $117,387, including $13,017 raised through special events.

The United Way described Duquesne’s campaign as one that was “widely inclusive, reaching just about everyone in the University community.”

United Way Campaign Chair Bill Zilcosky, senior director of facility services and operations, campaign co-chair Cheryl Knoch, assistant vice president for student involvement, and employee campaign manager Denise Sciulli, assistant to the vice president for finance and business, worked diligently with members of the campaign team to promote campaign awareness, foster excitement for this year’s events and garner overall support.

Annual fundraising events included the Cops ‘n Chefs BBQ; the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta; the Walking Taco Sale and Lottery Tree Raffle, sponsored by the School of Education; the School of Pharmacy hoagie sale; and the Night of Lights, sponsored by the Student Government Association.

New campaign events included DUKEtoberfest and Celebrate and Give Thanks, both donor appreciation gatherings held at the Red Ring; an evening of ballroom dancing hosted by Computing and Technology Services; a homemade pierogi sale in the Office of Human Resources; a craft sale by the School of Pharmacy; and a men’s basketball exhibition game to support the United Way’s Disaster Recovery Funds.

A Women’s Leadership Breakfast wrapped up the campaign by promoting the United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council and the United for Women initiative.

President Ken Gormley hosted a leadership luncheon where a Duquesne student shared his story of how United Way partner ACTION-Housing helped him when he was at risk of homelessness.