The 2013 United Way campaign raised a total of $114,871 – an increase of 4.5 percent from one year ago. The effort surpassed the campus goal of $113,646.

“We met and exceeded our goal. While this is great news, what is more important is what these dollars will do for our community,” said Char Goodyear, assistant to the vice president for University Relations and campus campaign coordinator. “Besides providing for basic needs, these dollars will help implement strategies that create successful families and increase student achievement, which will help slow the cycle of poverty. That’s critical to ensuring our community continues to thrive and that families have an opportunity to prosper.”

NDSU employees pledged more than $111,000 during the campaign, and another $3,500 was raised through special events. The donations help fund 86 programs of 54 local agencies.

Goodyear said there were 413 NDSU donors during the campaign, a 1 percent increase in the participation rate from 2012. In addition, the NDSU Leaders in Giving campaign, formerly known as Key Club, had 91 participants, up from 84 one year ago.

“I’d like to thank our unit campaign coordinators for their invaluable help with the campaign, and I would also like to thank everyone who donated or volunteered this year,” Goodyear said. “Your gifts of time and money are truly appreciated. Thank you for being the one to make a difference in our community.”

For more information about United Way of Cass-Clay, visit www.uwcc.net.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.