October 21, 2005

United Way campaign comes to Purdue residence halls

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue residence halls will use crafts, doughnuts and an annoying insect to help the Greater Lafayette United Way meet its annual campaign goal for the 31st consecutive year.

University Residences will hold a series of fund-raisers from Friday (Oct. 21) to Oct. 31 to collect donations to go toward the $700,000 goal of Purdue's United Way campaign.

"Purdue students and staff are among the most generous members of our community," said Sarah Casares, Hilltop Apartments residential life manager who co-chairs University Residences fund-raising efforts. "Members of the University Residences community will do their part to join with the rest of the university in contributing to the improvement of our community. We wanted to provide them with fun, easy ways to be involved."

One of those ways is the Annoying Ant fund-raiser, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday (Oct. 21). Throughout the day, a volunteer wearing an ant costume will be at each residence hall, collecting money from residents and staff for the United Way. The Annoying Ant will stay at each hall for 30 minutes or until the goal has been met.

A can of ant spray will be affixed to the costume when leaving each hall showing how much was collected.

In addition to the Annoying Ant fund-raiser, University Residences will also sponsor a craft fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at Wiley Hall. The fair will feature crafts made and sold by housing employees and their immediate families.

At the fair, each vendor will pay $15 to sell their crafts, all of which will be donated to the United Way. Casares said some vendors are likely to donate some or all of their profits from the sale as well.

The craft fair is open to the public, and in addition to making purchases, people will be able to make donations to the United Way.

For a third fund-raiser, University Residences staff can purchase a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts for $5. The doughnuts can then be delivered to any Purdue staff member, along with a Halloween greeting. Doughnuts will be delivered Oct. 31.

Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu

Sources: Sarah Casares, (765) 494-2396, scasares@purdue.edu

Jessica Burger, Hawkins Hall residential life manager, (765) 494-7187, jrburger@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: A full schedule of appearances by the Annoying Ant on Friday is available from Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073 or mholsapple@purdue.edu.

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