November 20,2009

Campaign Draws to Close

Campaign Comes to an End

As the USC Good Neighbors Campaign concluded at the end of October, the question on everyone's mind is if we reached our goal. The great news is that we did - and then some.

Drum roll please . . . $1,210,000!!!

Congratulations to USC faculty and staff, to the campaign leaders and to USC campaign staff who made this outstanding achievement possible. The Trojan spirit of giving is alive and well at USC.

Just remember, that while the campaign officially ended on October 31, donations are accepted until the end of the year. As a result, we won’t really have a final count until right after the new year. If you make a pledge before December 31, it will still count toward this year’s campaign. So don't wait any longer; make your pledge today.


•Results Update

•Dinner with the President

•From USC News Service

•GNC Raffles

•GNC Contact Information
Results Update

The latest numbers:

- Total funds to date: $1,210,000
- Total donors: 5,405
- Participation rate: 38%
- President’s Leadership Circle: 430


Dinner with the President

President’s Leadership Circle

Trojans who give 1 percent or more of their salaries through payroll deductions become members of the President’s Leadership Circle. Besides the satisfaction of knowing that they are contributing to the betterment of the communities that surround our two campuses, they also enjoy a very special perk.

That perk is a grand soirée at President and Mrs. Sample’s home in San Marino.

This year, the dinner was held for those staff members who generously gave 1 percent or more of their salary during last year’s campaign. Held on October 27, guests enjoyed the Moroccan-themed dinner.

Invited speakers included Yuri Guardado, graduate of the USC Neighborhood


President Sample mixes with members of his Leadership Circle at the dinner held at his San Marino home.
Academic Initiative, gainfully employed as a lawyer at Felahy & Associates in Long Beach, CA and Harut Hovsepyan, graduate of the STAR Program at Bravo Medical Magnet High School, currently pursuing his master’s in the preventive health program at the Keck School of Medicine with a focus on Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Yuri and Harut gave moving testimonials about how their lives were transformed as a result of participating in their respective community-outreach programs that receive funding as a result of the monies raised through the Good Neighbors Campaign.
From USC News Service

This is the article that ran on the USC Web site reminding staff that the campaign was drawing to an end. Just in case you missed it . . .

Good Neighbors Nearing Its Oct. 31 Deadline
By Sara Villagran and Katharine Diaz

Stay active and stay healthy - that important message has been delivered to hundreds of children as part of the Fit Families Program from the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy.

This free program for underserved children living around the Health Sciences campus focuses on those who are at high risk for diabetes and other conditions associated with physical inactivity.

Fit Families is one of hundreds of programs over the years made possible by the Good Neighbors Campaign, now in its 15th year of making a difference in the communities around the University Park and Health Sciences campuses.

The October fund-raiser that asks staff and faculty to support local programs is in the last week of its campaign and striving to reach two goals: raise $1.2 million and increase participation to 50 percent.

“We’re making great strides,” said Good Neighbors Campaign director Carolina Castillo. “We are looking to the Trojan Family to continue this pace of giving.”

As of Oct. 16, the Good Neighbors Campaign had raised $1 million on 3,723 pledges, a 26 percent participation rate. Of those, 311 are contributing 1 percent or more of their salary through payroll deductions.

Since 1994, more than $10 million has been raised to fund more than 350 local programs partnering with USC.

“No other university in the nation contributes so much to its neighborhoods through voluntary contributions by faculty and staff,” said Thomas S. Sayles, vice president of USC government and community relations. “I’m proud that we’re transforming the lives of thousands of children and their families.”

Fit Families alone has served more than 300 individuals since its inception in 2005, according to Cheryl Resnik, director of community outreach in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy.

Fit Families provides evaluation, group exercise activities, individualized exercise programs and nutrition counseling through group discussions, interactive demonstrations and computer-based tutorials.

“They teach you how to take care of yourself and be more aware of what you’re eating and why you should exercise,” said Graciela Serrano, a mother of two and past Fit Families participant. “My kids are more interested and motivated to take care of themselves and are more active.”

http://uscnews.usc.edu/university/good_neighbors_nearing_its_oct_31_deadline.html

Final Raffle Prizes

Our Last Winners!

There were so many lucky winners of the special thank-you gifts we had to surprise those who contributed to the campaign. Here is the list of our lucky winners from this week’s final raffle drawing:

Congratulations GNC Raffle Winners!

Raffle Drawing Winners are:

1) Pair of USC vs. UCLA Football Tickets(11/28/09)
• William Buttrey, AIS, Technical & User Support
2) Pair of Lower Level LA Kings Tickets
• David Archila, Hospitality, Town and Gown
3) Two-night Stay at the Kyoto Grant Hotel and Gardens
• Mildred Penner, Leventhal School of Accounting
4) USC Rolling Cooler with USC Picnic Supplies
• Allan V. Abbott, Keck School of Medicine of USC
5) Autographed USC Football by Coach Pete Carroll
• Amelia Basconcillo, USCUH, Infection Ctrl/Risk Mgmt


GNC Contact Information

For More Information . .

Don’t forget, if you have questions, you can always contact your Campaign Leader or the GNC office:

USC Good Neighbors Campaign
2801 S. Hoover Street
Los Angeles, CA 90089-7740
Telephone: 213-743-4515
E-Mail: neighbor@usc.edu


© 2009 USC Good Neighbors Campaign. Visit us at
http://www.usc.edu/goodneighbors