UAB’s Benevolent Fund campaign drive reached new heights in 2008, receiving record pledges of $1,634,212 from employees — topping the previous high mark by more than $100,000.

Benevolent Fund Program Manager David Precise is hoping to top 2008 numbers this April as the annual campaign hits its stride. This year’s drive began April 1 and runs through May 1.

“Last year was a fantastic year for the Benevolent Fund, and I think it says something as a community of employees that we put forth that kind of relationship with the people we live with,” Precise says. “There are many problems that would have no solutions without the generosity of our employees. We hope to raise our contributions to new heights again this year.”

The Benevolent Fund is UAB’s own system for supporting charitable, service and health agencies by providing a mechanism for employees to help those in need in the Birmingham area. Decisions regarding the solicitation and distribution of funds are made by a council of UAB employees who are elected by fellow employees to serve two-year renewable terms or appointed by the UAB administration to serve indefinitely.

The council of Benevolent Fund volunteers opted to change the slogan of this year’s drive and asked the UAB community for help. More than 230 suggestions were submitted. Laura Newton, associate professor of Nutrition Sciences, submitted the winning entry, “Give Help, Give Hope.”

“I think the slogan put into words what the Benevolent Fund should be about and kind of echoes the economic worries people have right now,” Precise says. “It’s a good phrase that we all need to see and hear.”

Helping co-workers, community
Because of the donations employees make to the UAB Benevolent Fund, their fellow co-workers are helped in a variety of ways, and more than 140 community organizations also received support from faculty and staff. Among those are the American Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Childcare Resources, Alabama Kidney Foundation, American Heart Association, the North Central Alabama chapter of Susan G. Komen, the Salvation Army and the YWCA.

The Benevolent Fund also supports the employee emergency assistance program. That program assists UAB employees who experience emergency situations that require them to seek financial assistance. Financial awards may be made to employees who qualify under the Employee Emergency Assistance guidelines. The program may help pay grocery bills, rent or mortgage payments, electric or gas bills and doctor bills. Emergencies usually are related to loss and damage caused by fire, tornado or other natural disaster or a medical emergency that causes leave without pay.

The Benevolent Fund paid more than $165,000 to employees in need in 2008, Precise says. “Whatever the need of our employees, the Benevolent Fund always has been able to fill it,” Precise says. “Four or five years ago we went about $30,000 over budget on the employee emergency assistance, but we pulled it out of reserve and gave it to our employees in need. This program is a priority of the Benevolent Fund and a very important part of what we do.”

Faculty and staff are encouraged to consider contributing at a level appropriate for them. Some common contributions include:
• One hour’s pay per month (just 12 out of 2,080 hours for a full-time employee)
• 1 percent of annual pay per month
• A continuous fixed amount each month
• A one-time payroll deduction or gift by check

“The main reason people don’t give to something is because they aren’t asked,” Precise says. “We want to make people aware of the Benevolent Fund and hope they have 5 to 10 minutes to listen to a volunteer.”

The need for all of the things we fund gets bigger and bigger every year. The whole point is to help people in trouble and help strengthen our community.”

A note of thanks
Benevolent Fund campaign volunteers will be visiting offices throughout campus this month soliciting for donations and saying thank you to those who give annually.

“Half of our job during this campaign is to thank those who do give to the fund,” Precise says. “I think people give to the fund unconditionally and have a lot of trust in what we do, and it’s important to thank them for giving.”

For more information, visit www.uab.edu/benfund online, call 934-1581 or e-mail Precise at dprecise@uab.edu.