Dear Maverick Family,
This past year has helped shine a light on the importance of supporting others in their time of need. Additionally, it has also shown the need for our Maverick mission as an urban university: to engage with our city and find ways, even small ones, to help our community.
It is for these reasons, among many others, that I am proud to once again have UNO be a partner with the United Way in their annual giving campaign, which begins Monday, Nov. 8th, and will run through Friday, Nov. 19th.
Even before COVID-19, thousands of metro-area residents struggled to stay afloat due to homelessness, poverty, access to basic healthcare needs, or personal crises that have become unmanageable. Through this past year, these challenges have grown for so many and the need for assistance is greater than ever. As engaged community partners, we have the ability and responsibility to help in any way we can.
Over the next few weeks, you will receive emails from United Way of the Midlands encouraging you to participate in this campaign. Our goal this year is to raise $25,000 in support of this important organization.
You can find more details about how to donate, once the campaign begins Monday, on our website.
To continue to foster a community of care, I will be hosting a special fundraising event on Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Milo Bail Student Center from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., so save the date!
If you are looking for additional or alternative ways to support our community during this time, UNO is also working with the Give Nebraska, formerly Community Services Fund of Nebraska, another great organization that can help connect Mavericks to the causes they care about most. If you wish to donate to Give Nebraska, you can do so online.
As we build up toward a brighter future, it is these important partnerships and the spirit of giving that shows our true Maverick Spirit and the full reach of our extended Maverick family. Also, on top of donating your money, you can also donate the gift of time to the United Way of the Midlands or Give Nebraska; there are many ways to help.
Those who may need access to the services provided by the United Way of the Midlands, you can do so securely by dialing "2-1-1" or texting your zip code to 898211 to get in touch with a helpline specialist.
Once again, I thank you for all that you do for UNO and our community. And thank you in advance for everything you do to support this important initiative.
Sincerely,
Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA
Chancellor
