Campus United Way campaign co-chairs Dave Bothman, left, and Sandra Featherson

By any measure, the campus’s 2009 United Way campaign was a tremendous success. The proof is in the Outstanding Education Campaign trophy presented to campaign co-chair Sandra Featherson by United Way of Santa Barbara County.

Not only did the campaign surpass its goal of $125,000, it also increased employee participation.

“We raised $125,691, which is an increase of $10,737 over last year,” said Featherson. In addition, employee participation increased to 10%, she said. The number of participants in the Day of Caring, which benefits United Way, more than doubled, Featherson added, and nearly more than 70 people participated in the Walk-a-thon that kicked of the fund-raising campaign.

Even candy-gram sales increased this year, she noted.

“Kudos go to the department reps who got the communication out to their staffs,” Featherson said. “Whether people want to give or not is up to them, but keeping people apprised of the campaign and letting them know the dates for the candy-grams and other events was really the key.”

The 2009 campaign, with the theme “So Many Ways to Give,” began on January 15 and continued through February 27.