UNL is again aiming to impact the lives of thousands by participating in the Lincoln-area Combined Campaign for Health and Human Services.

The annual community pledge drive runs from Oct. 22 to Nov. 1. UNL’s theme for the drive is “Big Impact — Go Big, Give Big.”

The Combined Campaign benefits three federations — Community Health Charities of Nebraska, Community Services Fund and United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County. The three federations represent more than 110 local agencies that assist members of the community.

“The UNL Combined Campaign is an opportunity to demonstrate a solid sense of commitment to our community,” Chancellor Harvey Perlman said. “Your gift is important to send a unified message of support from the entire university to the community as a whole.”

UNL is consistently one of the top fundraisers for the drive. Last year, UNL employees gave $419,519 toward the effort. The total was third overall by public participants in the drive and represented a 4.9 percent increase of dollars pledged by UNL employees in 2013.

“We are very grateful for the support we received from the university,” said Starlet Borecky, senior resource development manager for the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County. “The university employees are a very important factor in our annual campaign. They consistently place UNL among the top supporters, which shows they truly care about giving back to the community.”

Combined Campaign pledge materials will be delivered to UNL employees after Oct. 22. Pledges can be made online or by turning in pledge cards. Employees may give to any specific agency or to the three general funds. A variety of giving options are offered. Pledge cards are due Oct. 31.

Linda Major, assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, is the 2015 UNL Combined Campaign chair.

“Together we can make our community stronger and better. We do just that every day through the work that we do with students,” Major said. “This campaign is our chance to reach out to the wider community to make a powerful, positive difference.”

UNL’s goal is to raise $425,000. Major hopes 100 percent of UNL faculty and staff participate in the campaign.

“We know we can achieve the goal if everyone makes a pledge of any amount,” Major said. “Please join me in demonstrating our collective caring as we show the world we are ‘there’ for our community.”

To date, UNL employees have contributed more than $6 million to the campaign.

Examples of gift impacts include:

• A $10 donation can buy art supplies for five kids at the Lincoln Arts Festival family activity tent or purchase a 30-day low-income bus pass.

• A $20 donation can train five disaster volunteers or pay for 20 people with arthritis to participate in the “Walk with Ease” walking group.

• A $50 donation buys enough food to feed 10 families for a week or helps someone with leukemia pay for medical supplies not covered by insurance.

• A $100 donation sends a child with diabetes to Camp Hot Shots Central or provides trained staff for weekly moms’ groups.

For more information about the 2015 UNL Combined Campaign for Health and Human Services, click here.