As the Purdue United Way Campaign entered week three Monday, the university put the spotlight on the College of Veterinary Medicine’s United Way Campaign Champion, Angela Pickett, who serves as executive assistant to the dean. That’s because Purdue United Way Campaign Director Lisa Duncan wanted to share Angela’s personal story that highlights how Purdue employees’ support for United Way can truly make a difference in the Lafayette-West Lafayette community.
As part of the Purdue United Way Campaign’s 2024 Spotlight Series, Lisa shared an email message Monday highlighting the Wabash Center as one of many agencies that benefit from the campaign. She emphasized how the center has been providing life-changing services to children and adults with disabilities or special needs for more than 70 years. Then she quoted Angela, who expressed the impact that that the center has had on her and her family this way: “Grant’s House at the Wabash Center is a bright spot for my family. My son participates in their after-school care and summer camp programs, and he really enjoys them. I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact of these services.”
Wabash Center President and CEO Jason McManus added, “Thanks to the United Way of Greater Lafayette, Wabash Center has been able to expand its offerings, including the creation of Grant’s House. This facility supports children as young as three years old with programs like the Autism Clinic, afterschool care, and summer camps, helping them gain the skills they need to live life without limits.”
Angela not only serves as an advocate sharing her personal story about reasons to give to United Way, she also is playing a leadership role as the College of Veterinary Medicine’s United Way Campion. “I am responsible for sending information and reminders to our college so that we can meet our $20,000 college goal,” Angela said. The University’s goal is $700,000. “I can also answer questions and direct employees to give to their area’s United Way if they live outside of Greater Lafayette.”
Angela explains that to date, the college has raised just over $5,000 from 13 donors who have responded so far. “I’m excited to see us reach our goal again this year,” Angela said.
The 2024 Purdue United Way campaign officially launched September 24, led by Dimitrios Peroulis, senior vice president for partnerships and online and the Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and vice chair Sang Woo, chair of the Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence and a professor of industrial-organizational psychology in the College of Health and Human Sciences.
New to this year’s campaign is a drawing featuring four prizes that can be awarded to anyone who responds through the donation website by clicking either the “Give Now” or “I Don’t Wish to Give” buttons. This year also marks the return of the campuswide silent auction, which is underway and runs through November 1. Guided tours of Westwood and the Tippecanoe County Courthouse and gift certificates for local restaurants are some of the items up for grabs. More details, including a list of prizes and experiences, can be found online.
Angela also advises, “If you are unable to give, please go to the website and click ‘no,’ which will opt you out of messages from the United Way for this campaign.”
Click here for more information about the Purdue United Way Campaign.
