Celebrating 40 years of employee giving

Wright State University’s annual giving campaign for faculty, staff and retirees gets underway on Monday, March 12. Inspired by the 40th anniversary of the Campus Scholarship and Innovation Campaign (CSIC), the theme of this year’s CSIC is “40 Years in the Making.”

CSIC began in 1978 when Millie Waddell, one of Wright State’s first employees, organized the university’s first employee giving effort.

“Forty years later, we continue to see the impact that first employee-giving campaign had,” said Amy Jones, director of annual giving. “Millie recognized that even in hard times, the greatest asset we have in supporting our students is each other — the faculty and staff that keep Wright State thriving.”

This year’s CSIC will introduce a new program for faculty/staff/retiree donors — The Flight Crew.

“We wanted to recognize our faculty, staff and retirees for their support of Wright State University and our students,” Jones said. “When faculty, staff and retirees make their gifts to this year’s CSIC, they will become inaugural members of The Flight Crew.”

Each member of the Flight Crew will receive a lapel pin that honors their support of CSIC. “They can earn their wings by helping our students soar,” said Jones.

Like any previous CSIC, faculty, staff and retirees may choose among Wright State’s more than 1,900 scholarships and programs when designating their gifts.

“One hundred percent of their donations will go directly to the funds that they choose,” said Jones. “No administrative fees are taken out of their gifts.”

When the first CSIC took place in 1978, more than $39,000 was raised. During the 2017 campaign, 46 percent of Wright State’s full-time faculty and staff participated, contributing more than $579,000 to scholarships, programs, research and athletics.

“Our faculty, staff and retirees have made Wright State the great university that it is today,” said Jones. “Their incredible generosity has left a lasting impact on our students. We’re counting on our Wright State family to step up once again and help support our students during this year’s CSIC.”

For the 2018 campaign, Jones is hoping for 50 percent participation among Wright State’s full-time faculty and staff. This year’s CSIC runs from March 12 to April 27.

To learn more about the 2018 Campus Scholarship and Innovation Campaign or to make a gift online, visit wright.edu/csic.