Service group information fair to kick off

UMMCares, the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s annual service organization donation drive, will run this year from Monday, Nov. 5 through Friday, Nov. 16.  

The goal is to raise at least $130,000 for the 13 charities included in the campaign.  Employees are encouraged to give through payroll deduction. Donations will take effect for the 2013 calendar year and are tax-deductible.

Representatives of these service organizations will be on hand for a series of information fairs later this week to share information about the good works they are doing in our community.  The schedule for these activities is:

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Central Business Office, Clinton

Thursday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – University Hospital, Interhospital Connector

Friday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Jackson Medical Mall, Continuing Education Concourse

This year’s campaign will once again include a number of prizes to encourage participation, including a grand prize to be awarded at the end of the campaign.  To be eligible to receive a prize, an employee must donate at least $26 – that’s $1 for each of the year’s 26 pay periods.

The winner of each prize is determined through a random selection. The sooner in the campaign employees make their donation of $26 or more, the more prizes they will be eligible for. (Under IRS rules, the value of the prizes will be reported as income to the recipients.)

This year’s campaign also will continue the friendly competition between components of UMMC. “Grand Giver” trophies will be presented to the unit that raises the most money as well as the unit that records the highest participation (based on a minimum $26 pledge).

Last year, the School of Medicine won the trophy for highest contributions while the School of Health Related Professions won for highest participation.  Other competitors include the School of Dentistry, the School of Nursing, University Hospitals including Batson Children’s Hospital, and the Service Area.