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Upstate cheered for campaign excellence by United Way

SYRACUSE, N.Y.— Upstate Medical University has been honored by the United Way of Central New York with the Spirit of Caring Award for Campaign Excellence. The award recognizes Upstate’s 2011 campaign that raised more than $650,000 from Upstate employees.

According to the United Way, the campaign excellence award recognizes organizations that strongly believe in the importance of corporate and individual philanthropy. The award also acknowledges the beneficent spirit of employees who engage in the future of the community by caring for those in need through their contributions to the community through the United Way.

“We’re elated by this recognition from the United Way,” said Upstate President David R. Smith, M.D., who accepted the award at the United Way’s annual awards ceremony April 26. “It reflects the spirit of caring that is embraced by our employees and is a hallmark of Upstate’s commitment to the community.”

This year was the first United Way campaign at Upstate that included employees from Community General Hospital. (Upstate acquired Community General in July 2011.). The campaign was led by Upstate University Hospital Chief Executive Officer John McCabe, M.D., and Upstate Senior Vice President Wanda Thompson, PhD, and featured the work of more than 200 department representatives and campaign committee members, and offered employees various options to contribute, including an online giving option. In addition, Upstate’s Community Giving website featured video testimonials from Upstate employees who spoke of their support for various agencies. Day-to-day campaign responsibilities were guided by Zanette Howe, Rebecca Cerio, Dan Hurley, Margaret Bourke, Lisa Bane and Kristin Schofield

This isn’t the first year Upstate has been honored by the United Way. Last year, Upstate received the Leadership Development Award and in 2010 it received the Volunteer Service Award. Upstate’s Zanette Howe, who serves as campaign director for the university’s community giving campaign, received the 2006 Campaign Volunteer of the Year Award.

Over the last five years, Upstate employees have contributed more than $2.6 million to local charities through its community giving campaign.