March 2009

Dear Colleagues,

As faculty and staff members at UM-Dearborn, each of us provides the excellence of the University of Michigan to the people and needs of southeastern Michigan.  Whether we are teaching, advising students, balancing budgets, answering phones, or filing, we are all contributing to the  excellence that makes UM-Dearborn such a great place to work and learn.

As co-chairs for the 2009 Faculty and Staff Campaign, we ask you to deepen your commitment to the excellence of UM-Dearborn by making a gift to the campus.  Since tuition and state funding do not cover the entire cost to educate a student. philanthropic donations are becoming even more important to the campus.  The Faculty and Staff Campaign provides each of us with a different and important way to demonstrate our investment in UM-Dearborn and our students.

Your participation in the 2009 campaign, which runs from March 16 - April 10 this year, is as important as the amount you give; every dollar you donate is significant to the student and/or program that receive it.  Plus contributions to any state university qualify for a tax credit on your Michigan state tax return.  The credit is 50 percent of contributions up to $200 in gifts for single filers or up to $400 for joint filers!

Please consider renewing your annual gift or making a first-time gift or pledge to one of the many needs on the campus.  All you have to do is look around at any academic unit and/or program for proof regarding the difference philanthropic support has made in increasing the standard of excellence at UM-Dearborn.  What programs do you care about?  In what area would you like to make a difference?  The choice is yours.

You may visit the Faculty and Staff Campaign web page to make a gift online or print a gift form.  You will also find an honor roll of all those faculty and staff members who have given since 2000 and a list of UM-Dearborn account codes to which you can direct a gift.  Gifts can be made through payroll deductions, cash, check or charge.

Your gift, no matter the size, will make a difference.  Please join us today in the ongoing effort to go the extra mile for deserving students and ensure the excellence of UM-Dearborn.

Sincerely,