Annual UNM Gives United Way Campaign Gets Underway

Campus Community Steps Up to Meet Critical Needs

 

The 2020 UNM Gives United Way campaign, a partnership with United Way of Central New Mexico (UWCNM) that kicks off on Thursday, comes at a time when the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the critical needs facing New Mexicans.

This year’s campaign runs through December 1 – #GivingTuesday – a global generosity movement designed to unleash the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

This year’s UNM Gives campaign comes as many families continue to suffer from the pandemic. Many people have lost jobs and are having difficulty making ends meet, putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads.

UNM has been a proud supporter of the United Way for more than 26 years, said UNM President Garnett S. Stokes.

“Among our defining characteristics as Lobos are our generosity of spirit and our sense of civic responsibility,” Stokes said. “Each year, the UNM Gives campaign provides faculty and staff with the opportunity to give back to our community through a contribution to the United Way of Central New Mexico. This year in particular, as our community and country struggle with the challenges of COVID-19, your support and compassion have never been more critical. With your help, our pack can impact positive change – and change lives across our state.”

To help meet increased need due to the pandemic, UWCNM has established a COVID Relief Fund that focuses on addressing hunger, homelessness or housing insecurity and family stability. It help support 14 nonprofit agencies that can quickly and efficiently address basic needs of New Mexicans affected by COVID-19 and the economic impact of the pandemic. Thanks to the generosity of the Thornburg Foundation, gifts to this fund will be matched up to $25,000.

A few of the organizations benefiting from the COVID Relief Fund include Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless, Domestic Violence Resource Center, New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers, Presbyterian Medical Services and Roadrunner Food Bank.

UWCNM also works with hundreds of community partners through its Community Impact Fund, which focuses on family stability and education through two initiatives – Mission: Families and Mission: Graduate.

Mission: Families delivers trauma-informed care training to practitioners virtually, while Mission: Graduate provides virtual college and career exploration opportunities, virtual professional development opportunities for educators and virtual attendance conferences. Last year the Community Impact Fund distributed more than $2.1 million to 52 nonprofit agencies in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties.

Other pandemic-relief funds include the Emergency Action Fund, a UWCNM and Albuquerque Community Foundation-led effort designed to support nonprofit organizations struggling with lost and non-recoverable revenue due to COVID-19, and the Feeding Families Fund, which helps nonprofit agencies provide meals for families. Each meal is purchased from a local restaurant, which also helps the business community stay strong.

“Each year during the UNM Gives campaign, faculty and staff raise money to help make a positive impact in New Mexico,” said Abra Altman, the UNM Gives Campaign co-chair. “This campaign is more important than ever with the economic challenges caused by COVID-19. At UNM, where each of us defines all of us, if each of us can pledge even a small amount, we can really make a profound difference in our community.”

It’s easy to donate online, and there are many options available. Individual donors can choose to donate to any of the United Way programs, or you can designate another organization you’re passionate about. UNM employees can donate online by logging in to their myUNM account and clicking on the United Way logo to the left to reach the donation portal.

Individuals employed by UNM Hospitals, UNM Medical Group, Inc., or UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center should click on the UNM Health System Pledge Now button and log on to the system using your organization’s NetId credentials.

Individuals may also download and complete a United Way of Central New Mexico pledge form and send it to the University Controller's office, MSC01 1300, or give to your United Way coordinator. Those wishing to give to the UNM Foundation can visit unmfund.org. 

To learn more about the various ways your donations to UWCNM can help those affected by COVID-19 in New Mexico, visit UNM Gives United Way campaign.