University of Mississippi Medical Center employees will have the opportunity to support any institutional enterprise of their choosing during the Office of Development's annual "Giving Starts Here" campaign, scheduled Monday-Friday, Oct. 12-16.
The theme of this year's drive, "UMMC . . . A League of Our Own," lends a fun, baseball-themed twist to employee giving.
Once again, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to indicate where their pledges of single or biweekly payroll deductions will be distributed among the many existing UMMC "funds."
According to Travis Bradburn, interim executive director in the Office of Development, the campaign provides an opportunity for employees who feel passionately about specific institutional missions to directly support those funds.
Office of Development staff preparing to make the campaign's first pitch include, from left, Ruth Thomas, Ellery Stricklin, Andrew Russell, Travis Bradburn, John Clark Packer, Tara Brock and Lauren Clay.
"UMMC touches our lives professionally and personally in many different ways," Bradburn said. "When you choose to give, you can indicate which areas you want to support or you can designate your donation to the 'UMMC Area of Greatest Need' fund to be used where support is most needed."
He said the annual campaign has helped foster a culture of philanthropy at the Medical Center.
"Philanthropic support from our employees says a lot about who we are as an organization," Bradburn said. "When our employees choose to give back to the institution, it shows how strongly they feel about our missions.
"When people see our own employees donating to UMMC, they know we really believe in what we do."
Employees participating in the campaign will be given a symbol of their support, according to Ellery Stricklin, developmental and donor relations liaison.
"Employee donors will receive a pin to wear on their ID badges," she said. "These pins serve as a reminder of how important employee giving is at UMMC.
"Our participation is essential in creating a culture of philanthropy and leveraging other gifts in the community."
A table will be set up at each scheduled event; employees who register their pledges at the table or on the Employee Giving Campaign website will receive a giving pin, a discount card for local restaurants and a Giving Week T-shirt with the "UMMC . . . A League of Our Own" theme. This year, employees will also have the opportunity to receive baseball caps and coolers.
The "Giving Starts Here" event isn't limited to the week of Oct. 12-16. Bradburn said UMMC employees can register a pledge on the Employee Giving Campaign website 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"Every gift matters and will make a difference," he said.
Click here to view a calendar of events for Employee Giving Week.