Lynn Staley (at left) and Mary Brown are co-chairs of this year’s “Be Inspired” faculty and staff giving campaign at UMSL. The all-volunteer effort started Feb. 15 with a rally in the Millennium Student Center. (Photo by August Jennewein)

The annual “Be Inspired” faculty and staff giving campaign at the University of Missouri–St. Louis kicked off Wednesday with a gathering of volunteers and supporters in the Millennium Student Center.

Planned by volunteers, the internal fundraising campaign raises money for campus and department scholarships, student programs and activities, as well as earmarked items such as library holdings. “Be Inspired” netted more than $610,000 last fiscal year from 682 donors – about 37 percent of employees.

“It’s a remarkable statement that 37 percent of our faculty and staff invest in UMSL,” Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Martin Leifeld said. “It demonstrates their commitment to our students and our mission to serve the St. Louis community.

“The fact that this is essentially an all-volunteer campaign just amplifies the success of the effort and the character of our people. This is particularly impressive to our external donors – who often comment that their gifts are influenced by the fact UMSL invests in itself.”

For the next several weeks, faculty and staff will be receiving electronic communications about the campaign and volunteers will be making presentations to academic and non-academic departments. Among the collateral materials created for the campaign is a new video – premiered at Wednesday’s rally.

Lynn Staley, associate teaching professor of English, and Mary Brown, a technical trainer in Information Technology Services, are serving as co-chairs. Other members of the planning committee include Kathleen Burns, Advanced Credit Program; Grace Derda, College of Arts and Sciences Advising; Brian Farrar, Advanced Credit Program; Douglas Hughey, College of Nursing; Raleigh Muns, University Libraries; Meg Naes, Telephone Services; Kathleen Nigro, English; Nancy Scheberle, Center for Excellence in Financial Counseling; Chris Scheetz, TritonCard; Mary Tackett, Registration; and Larry Westermeyer, Institutional Research.