As students entered the Shine Student Center Thursday, Otto sprang into action, giving high fives, jumping up and down and going through all his signature moves.

Students had the opportunity to take their picture with Otto and eat a piece of cake after giving a recommended donation of $5.

The 43rd annual University United Way Campaign kicked off with the “Food and Photo” event. Otto the Orange was joined by event coordinator Peg Northrup and SU Food Services to start off this year’s campaign, which will last through Dec. 15.

“Otto made me stop, he was very convincing, and the money goes to a good cause,” said freshman Tyler Impey, an aerospace engineer major.

Faculty could partake in the festivities if they brought a completed pledge card, which was sent to them earlier in the week by Chancellor Kent Syverud. Additionally, faculty members can make a paperless donation right directly from their payroll, as the United Way is the only nonprofit that the university officially partners with.

The campaign typically raises over $200,000, but often the United Way is unable to meet all the financial needs expressed. Northrup said the University Campaign is “more inspired than ever to meet this demand.”

The United Way of Central New York can trace its roots all the way back to World War I. In June 1917, Walter Stone, the mayor of Syracuse at the time, invited local business leaders to City Hall to establish what he called a community “war chest,” that would raise $600,000 for charitable giving, according to its website. By July 3, 1917, the group had raised over $1 million, and by 1972, the Syracuse Community Chest became the United Way of Central New York.

Since 1972, Syracuse University has organized an employee fundraising campaign with the organization, according to the Office of Government and Community Relations. In the past 10 years, university employees have donated more than $1.5 million to the United Way to help local nonprofit organizations.

Now students can expect to see fundraising events taking place on campus throughout the year in which they will be able to participate in, Northrup said.

“What students and visitors will see are events in all the buildings throughout the fall, like bake sales, lunch sales, the iSchool does a fundraiser where you can ‘Pet a Pup’ if you are missing your dog from home — it’s fun,” Northrup said. “It’s an opportunity for staff and students to come together for the community … Events also allow students and faculty to blow off a little steam and have fun.”

Each college contacts Northrup throughout the semester to organize individual events, although she still arranging the logistics of each event. All money raised through the campaign is distributed by United Way to 34 local non-profits and 91 local programs. These agencies include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Syracuse, LiteracyCNY and the Food Bank of Central New York.

Northrup added that the campaign hopes to leverage the power of social media as it created the hashtag #unitedsu. The group wants to create a philanthropic buzz around campus and want to increase its presence online.

Published on October 20, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Jacob: jagedets@syr.edu