Featured series 
Campus & Community
Community Gifts beats own record
Harvard employees donate over $1 million
In spite of a sluggish regional and national economy, Harvard employees dug deeper than ever to help those in need, pushing the 2001 – 2002 Community Gifts Through Harvard over its $1 million goal and 12 percent over last year’s total. In all, Harvard faculty, staff and retirees donated $1,053,756 to charities through one-time donations or regular paycheck withdrawals.
“I think the feelings and emotions brought on by Sept. 11 inspired Harvard employees to give generously,” said Associate Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Jane Corlette, chairperson of the Community Gifts Through Harvard campaign. “Their generosity will benefit the home-grown charities that help poor people right here in our area.”
United Way of Massachusetts Bay was the single largest recipient of gifts again this year, taking in $542,391, 51 percent of the total gifts and pledges made by Harvard employees. Harvard is the largest university donor to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and was honored at a recent luncheon for raising more than $500,000 for the group of charities.
Harvard is unique in that it lets employees donate money to any charity, picking up the administrative costs, says Mary Ann Jarvis, associate director of community relations at Harvard.
“Ours is the only campaign that I know of that allows employees to donate to whomever they like,” said Jarvis, who served as manager of the campaign.
She noted that retirees and emeritus faculty donated a total of $52,630.
After United Way, Community Works received the largest donation – $24,155 – from Harvard employees. “Your efforts bringing employees together in this year’s giving campaign will resonate throughout the coming year in stronger, more vibrant, and more hope-filled communities,” said Community Works Director Fran Froelich.
Other top beneficiaries were Rosie’s Place, Partners in Health, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Planned Parenthood, Literacy Volunteers, Victory Programs, AIDS Action Committee, Federation for Children With Special Needs, Catholic Charities, Phillips Brooks House, and the Salvation Army.
Sept. 11 itself was a focus of employee philanthropy; employees earmarked $27,725 of Community Gifts giving to organizations related to Sept. 11 relief efforts.
In addition, separate initiatives at the Business School, School of Dental Medicine, and Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study raised $98,172 for Sept. 11-related charities, including the Sept. 11 College Fund, which President Lawrence H. Summers helped launch with a $1 million donation.
