News Releases

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012

LAWRENCE — Faculty and staff at the University of Kansas School of Business shattered records during KU's 2011 Live United campaign. The business school was recognized for its increase in campaign participation from the previous year and earned a bronze award from the United Way of Douglas County.

The school raised $13,619 during its 2011 campaign—an almost 500 percent increase from the previous year's donations—and saw a 68 percent participation rate among faculty and staff.

"Of all the participating units at KU, the School of Business had the best show on campus," said Colleen Gregoire, vice president and campaign director of United Way Douglas County, who presented the business school with its awards at a Jan. 23 campaign celebration. "The school's faculty and staff went above and beyond its previous goals, and made the campaign fun."

The seven-week fundraiser, coordinated by Jim Guthrie, human resources professor, and Janet Lukehart, assistant to the dean, enticed participation through weekly raffles. Donated prizes included KU basketball tickets, an assortment of wines donated by faculty members and a private dinner with Dean Bendapudi.

KU contributions to the 2011 Live United campaign totaled $335,000, about $20,000 more than its original campaign goal.

"The Live United campaign ended up being a community builder within the school itself," said campaign organizer Janet Lukehart. "Faculty and staff rallied behind the cause to donate their time, money and resources to support the Douglas County community. The school is already such a social place, and this campaign allowed us to be social and have fun while participating in an important community effort."

To learn more about the United Way of Douglas County and its partner agencies or to donate, visit unitedwaydgco.org.

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