UMSL broke a record during this year’s Month of Community Giving in October raising $80,000 for the United Way of Greater St. Louis and Community Health Charities of Missouri and Kansas. UMSL’s investment in the St. Louis community by its faculty, staff, students and alumni continues throughout the year. In this 2012 photo, a group of staff members volunteered to help build a home with Habitat for Humanity. (Photo by August Jennewein)

To honor their 50th Jubilee this year, employees at the University of Missouri–St. Louis gave nearly $80,000 to the United Way of Greater St. Louis and Community Health Charities of Kansas and Missouri campaigns, breaking the campus record. Both organizations provide funding to social service, health and research agencies in the St. Louis region.

“We set this year’s goal at $75,050 for the Jubilee and nearly $5,000 more than last year for these charities,” said Patricia Zahn, manager of community outreach engagement and chair of the 2013 UMSL Community Giving Campaign. “We had more people participating this year and an increase in donations of more than 10 percent over last year. I’d say UMSL’s month of giving was a wonderful success.”

In keeping with the Jubilee theme, those who donated $50 or more were automatically entered into a random drawing to win numerous prizes donated by companies and organizations both on and off campus. The prizes included St. Louis Rams tickets, gift cards, a television and Apple TV.

Zahn added that student philanthropy, which continues throughout the year, counts for an additional $9,000 in October alone.

“October provides us with a snapshot of the time and energy students put into community service all year long,” she said.

Some of those student activities in October included:

• Zeta Tau Alpha hosted Think Pink Week and their annual Cheer Classic cheerleading competition, which brought in more than $5,000 to support breast cancer research and education.

• The Student Nurses Association participated in Pedal for a Cause to raise funds for breast cancer research and education.

• The Department of Athletics teams partnered with Sodexo to sell Ice “S”cream to celebrate Halloween. Proceeds went to the Make a Wish Foundation.

• UMSL First Year Experience/University Studies students held a uniform drive to benefit students in the Normandy (Mo.) School District.

Visit UMSL’s Community Giving web site for a list of donors, prize winners and photo gallery.