United Way: Florida Tech Top College in Participation, Per Capita Giving in 2014

By  //  September 7, 2015

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A statewide assessment of United Way giving at Florida’s largest colleges and universities has found that Florida Institute of Technology had the highest percentage of participation and the largest per-capita donation. (FIT Image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – A statewide assessment of United Way giving at Florida’s largest colleges and universities has found that Florida Institute of Technology had the highest percentage of participation and the largest per-capita donation.

The United Way of Florida report, which examined 31 Florida schools with at least 500 employees, found that 48 percent of Florida Tech’s 928 employees gave a per capita average of $181 in the 2014 campaign.

Both totals were far and away tops in their categories, contributing to Florida Tech’s overall total raised of $168,161. The next closest in participation percentage was the University of Miami, with 34 percent. The second highest per capita amount was Jacksonville University with $123.

Florida Tech’s final United Way tally for 2014, which included the value of the university’s in-kind donations such as a loaned leader and hosting the campaign kick-off, was $177,543, the fifth-highest total among the top 75 Brevard County campaigns.

Anthony Catanese
Anthony Catanese

“Over the last 10 years, Florida Tech has raised nearly $1.2 million for the United Way, and we are very proud that such a wide swath of our campus community steps forward each and every year to participate so generously,” said Anthony J. Catanese, Florida Tech’s president and CEO and a past United Way campaign and board chairman.

Florida Tech was recognized with United Way of Brevard’s Chairman Award for the 2014 campaign, a distinction presented annually to an organization that has shown sustained excellence in not only supporting United Way, but also actively making a difference in the community.

Rob Rains
Rob Rains

“Florida Tech’s faculty, staff and students have a long tradition of supporting our United Way,” said Rob Rains, president, United Way of Brevard.

“The fact that Florida Tech ranks first on the list as one the most generous colleges and universities in the state is a testament to the caring and commitment the university has for our community.”

The 2015 campaign, led by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, will come to campus the week of Dec. 7-11, according to Joni Oglesby, the university’s employee campaign manager and, for the second consecutive year, a loaned leader to the countywide campaign.