Vol. 38, No. 18

2-1-2006
By: Tina Thome

Faculty and staff can make a difference through 2006 Campus Campaign

Whether it's making advancements in health care, teaching or agriculture, influencing policy and best practices or supporting the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the university operational, Ohio State staff and faculty are making a difference.

Campus Campaign, the university's annual volunteer-driven appeal, offers an opportunity for faculty and staff to support the funds they "believe in" at Ohio State. With more than $5 million given during the 2005 campaign, thousands of funds are reaping the benefits of faculty and staff generosity. The 2006 Campus Campaign runs through April 30.

Campaign co-chairs Martha Cooper, professor of marketing and logistics in the Fisher College of Business, and Chuck Gamble, manager of the Farm Science Review in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, are passionate about the spirit and mission of the Campus Campaign and are committed to sharing their enthusiasm with their colleagues.

"I have been giving to OSU for many years because I believe in Ohio State," Gamble said, reiterating the campaign's long-running theme. "I was born a Buckeye, graduated from Ohio State with two degrees and live in a state that benefits greatly from Ohio State products - not only from my department but from all colleges and departments."

In addition to raising money, the campaign seeks to build awareness of the many ways faculty and staff can make a difference in the areas most important to them and increase universitywide participation in the campaign.

In many cases, faculty and staff choose to support their own college or departments to provide critical resources that help the unit achieve its long-term goals. "I'm proud that my contributions to the Fisher College have helped create scholarships and provide extra support to departmental and faculty projects," Cooper said.

And Gamble likes knowing that his investment in FAES through the Campus Campaign has helped his department make capital improvements, purchase items that normally would be unaffordable and establish a student employee scholarship fund.

Faculty and staff, however, are not limited in what they can elect to support, Cooper said. "With the depth and breadth of activity at Ohio State, there's sure to be a campus project that ignites your passion and strengthens your desire to make a gift and we encourage you to do so generously," she said.

Over the next few weeks, volunteers from each department will deliver Campus Campaign materials to colleagues and extend a personal invitation to participate in this year's drive. Gifts made before April 30 will count toward 2006 campaign totals, and units with the highest participation rates will be recognized at the campaign's annual celebration in May.

For more information about the 2006 Campus Campaign, visit
www.campuscampaign.osu.edu or e-mail ccampaign@osu.edu.

Giving to the Campus Campaign is a personal choice. Here are two long-time donors to the campaign sharing their rationale for caring about Ohio State:

"My father was faculty in the horticulture department for more than 30 years and my mother was the secretary for the department. I practically grew up on campus. My dad passed away in 1977, and there is a tree in his memory on the Oval and an endowed chair in development in his name - the D.C. Kiplinger Endowed Chair in Floriculture.

I love Ohio State for giving me the chance to be part of the OSU family. For 25 years now, I have contributed my communications skills to different parts of the university. Every day, I feel my dad's spirit present on campus, at this institution he loved. Through good times and bad, he was a devoted Buckeye. He had chances to go to another institution, but he never considered them. I'm proud to carry on the Kiplinger name at Ohio State and to apply his love of excellence and service to others in all that I do."
- Janet Kiplinger Ciccone, director of communications,
College of Human Ecology

"I was born on the campus of Ohio State, having earned three degrees here and met my wife while working as a pharmacist. We delivered our daughter at the University Hospital, my son is an undergraduate here and I am approaching my 30-year anniversary as an employee of this wonderful place. Ohio State has been an incredibly important part of my intellectual, personal and professional life.

This university offers an amazing diversity and scope of professional opportunity. Since 1976, I have had the privilege of working as a pharmacist in clinical practice, nutritional support, nuclear medicine and management. I also have had the honor of being allowed to teach our wonderful students. I really feel I have had several different careers while getting a paycheck from the same institution.

I will always be thankful for the many outstanding colleagues I have had. I'm proud of our collective legacies relating to diversity, inclusion, integrity, innovation and compassion. And, most important to me, we work with and for students. It is our students, our ultimate customers, who provide the reason we're here and who embody our finest accomplishments."
- Kenneth Hale, assistant dean for student affairs,
College of Pharmacy

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