Indiana University East employees have done something unprecedented. Ninety-five percent of faculty and staff made a contribution during the 2009 Campus Campaign, setting a new participation percentage record for the annual faculty/staff fund drive.

Brindy Roosa, direct of Gift Development and campaign chair, said this year the IU East family made 220 gifts totaling more than $32,000 to benefit the campus. “Seeing the Impact” was the theme of the campaign, held in April. Employees were able to direct their contributions to any area of IU East that inspired them, including scholarships, academic programs, and special projects such as campus beautification.

“The Campus Campaign provides an opportunity for all of us to come together to show our pride in IU East and show the importance of investing in the future of our growing campus,” Roosa said. “The level of participation achieved this year is unheard of at other universities.”

Chancellor Nasser Paydar established a “Chancellor’s Challenge” and made a gift for every employee contribution made. He said the participation among faculty and staff sends a powerful message of dedication by the campus community.

“IU East is a special place, and I am grateful for the outstanding work of our faculty and staff to make a difference for our students and our region,” Paydar said. “We have great energy and enthusiasm on campus, and faculty and staff have demonstrated how much they believe in the work that they do.”