Faculty and staff Giving Green contributions top $180,000

University leaders lauded the campus’ community of givers whose Giving Green contributions and pledges totaled $181,395.27 for this year’s annual campaign.

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, speaking at the donor appreciation breakfast, noted employees’ generosity will enhance the work of the Arts & Science Council, agencies affiliated with the State Employees Combine Campaign and the UNC Charlotte Foundation.

Giving Green campaign co-chair Darin Spease, senior associate athletic director, echoed the chancellor.

“What a great testament to our campus of givers – you are awesome,” said Spease. “It’s been our pleasure to serve as Giving Green ringmasters; we had a great support team headed up by Stacie Young, director of annual giving. Not to mention the Giving Green champions, whom we’d like to recognize today. They were Lyndon Abrams, College of Education; Chris Bates and Antoinette Rhodie, Division of Business Affairs; Susan Bunton, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; Scott Byrd, athletics; Harry Creemers, Division of University Advancement; Tina Dadio, Office of Legal Affairs; Denelle Eads, Atkins Library; Linda-Jean Jay, Graduate School; Tamara Johnson, Office of Academic Affairs; Rick Lejk, College of Computing and Informatics; Lee Perkins, Belk College of Business;; David Rousmaniere, Division of Student Affairs; Ron Smelser, Lee College of Engineering; and Zachary Tarlton, College of Arts + Architecture.”

Director of Early College Programs and Giving Green Co-chair Michele Howard also expressed her appreciation for Giving Green participants. “You are our heroes. So, thanks again for joining us under our Giving Green Big Top. This year’s campaign has focused on the power of our Giving Green spirit to showcase how when we come together as a campus community, magnificent results are achieved.”

As part of the event, the Giving Green team held a drawing for DonorsChoose gift cards, provided by Charles Best, this year’s Chancellor Speaker Series presenter. Winners were encouraged to support projects on DonorsChoose.org, particularly the Charlotte Early Engineering College and those affiliated with Governor’s Village Schools (John Motley Morehead STEM, Nathaniel Alexander Elementary, James Martin Middle and Vance High School) that UNC Charlotte adopted several years ago.

This year’s Giving Green total was a 17 percent increase from the 2013 drive.

Watch the below video for a recap of this year’s campaign.