Campaign Deadline Approaches
Campaign on Home Stretch
The USC Good Neighbors Campaign heads into its final week, officially ending on October 31. Remember, our goal is to raise $1.2 million – and we will if everyone participates. So if you haven’t sent in your pledge, please do so. If you know a co-worker who hasn’t pledged yet, please encourage him or her to do so.
While the campaign officially ends on October 31, you can still make contributions through the end of year. But why wait? Do it now!
Can’t find your pledge packet? Ask your Campaign Leader for assistance or call the USC GNC office (see contact information at end) as soon as possible. Either can help you out.
•Campaign Profile
•Featured Community-Outreach Programs
•GNC Raffles
•GNC Contact Information
| Closing in on Goal
The weeks are slipping by for the USC Good Neighbors campaign, and pledges continue to come in. We are still working hard to achieve our goals of raising $1.2 million and reaching university-wide participation of 50 percent.
If you haven’t sent in your pledge yet, what are you waiting for?
As the USC Good Neighbors Campaign starts to wind down, we are getting close to achieving our goals of raising $1.2 million and reaching university-wide participation of 50 percent. But we aren’t there yet.
We are at 28 percent and need another $145,000 to meet our goal. Just imagine if the balance of all USC employees (10,302) gave $5 a month! That would add $618,120 to our total, taking us well over our fundraising and participation goals.
Now imagine that an additional 22 percent of employees - that’s 3,141 faculty and staff - give $5. That would give us an additional $188,460, which would also enable us to meet the goals we are striving for! It’s that easy.
While giving $5 dollars a month is a very modest sum, you can see how impressively it adds up. See what a GNC dollar buys: |
- $5.00 will purchase a book for an elementary school child
- $10.00 will provide an hour of theatre arts programming for elementary school children
- $20.00 will provide tooth sealants for five local school children
Give now and give generously.
The tally to date*:
- Funds raised: $1,055,000
- President’s Leadership Circle members (1% donors): 350
- Participation rate: 28%
- Total pledges: 4,020
*as of 10-23-09
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In Their Own Words We continue our series of people whose lives have been impacted by the USC Good Neighbors Campaign. Angela Bustillos, 6th Grader at John Adams Middle School For Angela Bustillos, participating in 24th Street Theatre’s After ‘Cool Program has been a family affair. Her little sister participates and her mom helps to promote the student productions at the theater. But for Angela, the program has meant so much more. The oldest of three sisters with two working parents, Angela is often pressed into service to take care of her sisters and help out at home, including helping her grandmother with her dialysis treatment. All that responsibility sits heavy on this youngster’s shoulders. |
 24th Street Theatre’s After’Cool Program serves local students. |
“Sometimes I stay around after the class,” explains Angela, “because my mom or dad need to work so I just want to stay around and wait because I don’t want to feel lonely in the house.”
Angela is also proud to be living in a neighborhood that boasts a theater like 24th Street Theatre. “I feel really lucky,” says Angela. “Other neighborhoods don’t have theater, they have to drive like twenty miles away to see a live theater.”
Angela enjoys her experience at the theater so much that she often volunteers to help clean and set up the theater before and after productions, always willing to lend a helping hand. She credits the program for teaching her to help and respect others too.
On top of that, she has been inspired to pursue some big dreams. Now two career choices top her list—that of becoming a doctor and an actor!
Charles Jacobs Jr.
USC Student, Neighborhood Academic Initiative, USC student
Charles Jacobs, Jr., credits his sixth-grade math teacher for making a difference in his life. “She would always push me,” recalls Jacobs. “I wasn’t used to being pushed so hard especially with something I didn’t like, which was math. I ended up with a ‘B’ in that class. Basically she saw the potential that I had as an African American male growing up.”
She also introduced him to the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative (USC NAI) that would further transform his life.
A student at Foshay Learning Center, Jacobs joined the program in seventh grade and stuck with it until graduation and is now a junior at USC. Sure, there were a few sacrifices along the way, like giving up some of his sports activities, but, explains Jacob, “I didn’t let anything get me down because I knew where I was headed, which was to USC in the end with a full scholarship.
“[Besides] I wouldn’t say my dreams have changed, but I have added new dreams. So just because I’ve taken an educational path rather than an athletic one doesn’t mean that I can’t somewhere, down the line, pursue my dream of becoming an athlete.” In fact, Jacobs is eyeing a career as a sports agent and a lawyer.
Jacobs is appreciative of members of the Trojan Family who contribute to the USC Good Neighbors Campaign. “That so many people could do such a thing like this especially since the economy is really rough right now,” expresses Jacobs. “I definitely appreciate it.”
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Programs That Make a Difference As you know, the contributions you make to the USC Good Neighbors Campaign go toward funding a wide variety of outreach programs. Here’s information about four of them that serve both campus neighborhoods.
Dance Included: $5,304
USC Neighborhood Debate League: $16,645 | 
The HSC Community Health Fair provides much-needed health information. |
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HSC Community Health Fair - $14,364 Community Partners: HSC Partner Schools USC Partner: USC Civic and Community Relations Provides no-cost, preventive health services and screenings to the community. USC Health and Science Expo - $14,167 Community Partner: USC Family of Schools (HSC) USC Partner: USC Civic and Community Relations Schoolchildren develop science projects working with HSC students and present them for judging at the HSC campus. | 
Schoolchildren gain science knowledge through the USC Health and Science Expo. |
Last Chance to Win!
Donors have been winning special prizes through the weekly drawings. Don’t forget that as soon as you submit your pledge form, your name will be entered into a drawing for prizes such as USC vs. UCLA football game tickets, a weekend hotel getaway, and other wonderful gifts. But time is running out as the last raffle drawing is quickly approaching.
Final Raffle Drawing Prizes: You can be eligible to win one of these great prizes when you turn in your pledge form on or before Friday, October 30:
Congratulations GNC Raffle Winners!
Last Week's Raffle Drawing Winners are:
• Pair of USC vs. UCLA Football Game Tickets (11/28/09)
• Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Natural History Museum of LA County
• Complimentary One Year Family Membership to the California African American Museum
• A USC football autographed by Coach Pete Carroll
• USC Rolling Cooler filled with Trojan Barbeque Utensils & Supplies
1) Pair of USC vs. UCLA Football Tickets (11/28/09)
• Jann A. Manaka, Centers for Creative Technologies
2) Pair of Aquarium of the Pacific Admission Tickets
• Janis L. Wise, Occupational Therapy
3) Special Invitation to the World Famous Magic Castle for up to Four Guests (gift donated by Scott Smith of the Marshall School of Business)
• Duncan B. Sillers, Rossier School of Education
4) One-night Deluxe Room in Omni Los Angeles Hotel
• Adam D. Duncan, Jr., University Advancement
5) USC Rolling Cooler filled with Trojan memorabilia
• Kevin J. Bolen, Disability Services & Programs
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
http://www.usc.edu/goodneighbors
