Ducks again lead the flock for charitable giving

The University of Oregon continues to set the pace for charitable giving, again topping the list for donations to an annual fund drive by state workers and university employees.

The 2011 Employees’ Charitable Fund Drive amassed $890,741 from 2,772 donors in the state workforce and the Oregon University System, fund drive chair Fred Lord said.

The money goes to 900 state and local charities throughout 2012 for the arts, children, the environment, health, housing, human services, social justice and more.
The UO boasted the largest number of individual donors, 763, and raised the most cash, $236,318.

The fund drive has raised more than $22.5 million since its inception in 1989, consolidates charitable solicitation of Oregon public employees into an annual campaign and allows online submission of pledges and optional payroll deductions for contributions.

The UO has provided more than one-quarter of the statewide total for at least two years running.

“The University of Oregon folks have a tremendous campaign system,” Lord said. “They feel this is important. There's a lot of involvement there.”

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality proved the most generous state agency, with 158 donors giving $49,612.

Donors can direct their dollars to favorite charities. The most popular recipients this year include the United Way of Lane County, the Equity Foundation, Earth Share of Oregon, Local Independent Charities and Community Health Charities of Oregon.

Donations were down from 2010, when employees donated more than $1 million. Lord said the decline likely results from continuing pocketbook pressure on state workers, who continue to take furlough days and now pay increased costs for their health insurance.