Faculty and staff to be the anchor leg in the success of the $60 million campaign

The Western Stands for Washington Campaign, Western Washington University's comprehensive $60 million campaign to raise funds for student scholarships, faculty research and campus programs, is surpassing its goal months ahead of schedule. The final push will be a faculty-and-staff-led effort to take the campaign well beyond the goal.

Western is inviting its faculty and staff to make history as a university. As part of a final campaign fundraising push through Feb. 24, a newly-formed WWU Faculty and Staff Campaign Advisory Board will be encouraging new, increased and renewed contributions from the campus community. An easy way to give is through payroll deduction. All contributors will be included on an honor roll to be published in Western Today and The Western Front, and the Advisory Board is aiming for extensive and heightened participation across campus.

"We already have a terrific start with 543 WWU faculty and staff having contributed to the Western Stands for Washington Campaign," states David Hamiter, co-chair of the Faculty and Staff Campaign Advisory Board. "As Western employees, we get to work with amazing young people who are learning how to make their way in the world.  Find a way to give that shows them we care.  It doesn't have to be much, but the example that you provide of paying it forward will be with them the rest of their lives."

Angie Vandenhaak, director of development for Annual Giving, said: "We are proud of the support that Western has gotten from our alumni, parents and friends during the campaign. At the same time, we’d like to offer all of our campus community one final opportunity to participate in this history-making campaign."

Feb. 24 marks the end of the public phase of the campaign. However, all funds raised through June 30 will count toward the final campaign amount.

For media inquiries, please contact Paul Cocke, director of Communications and University Relations, via email at Paul.Cocke@wwu.edu, office phone at 360-650-3350 or cell phone at 360-303-6009.