Catherine Connelly's experience as an undergraduate student at McMaster inspired her to become involved in this year's Community Campaign.

“I was very fortunate to receive some scholarships as a student at McMaster,” says Connelly, assistant professor, Faculty of Business. “Although I certainly appreciated the financial support, I was actually most grateful for the encouragement that the scholarships represented to me. I am very happy that my donation to scholarships will assist future students to pursue their own dreams.”

This week marks the launch of the 2007 McMaster University Community Campaign. This year's Campaign, Making Change for McMaster, invites faculty and staff to “create change” for McMaster by making a donation.

Annual support from faculty and staff is vital to ensuring McMaster and its students reach their ambitious goals for the future. Past gifts have helped support a wide range of initiatives from bursaries and scholarships to medical and scientific research to construction of facilities that benefit our entire McMaster community.

Seven volunteers from across campus are leading this year's Campaign: Brad Coburn, marketing and promotions coordinator; Catherine Connelly, assistant professor, Faculty of Business; Arlene Dosen, admissions and recruitment Officer; Jennifer Kleven, community education coordinator; Tim Louks, women's volleyball coach; Fiona McNeill, chair, Medical Physics & Applied Radiation Sciences; and Mark Patel, programmer.

This year's Campaign volunteers and their stories of support are featured in the Community Campaign posters and brochures. For many of the volunteers, their interactions with students or their own experience as McMaster students has prompted them to “make change” for McMaster.

Volunteers are inviting their colleagues to find a project of importance to them and support it by making a donation. There are a number of possible projects to support including bursaries, scholarships, a particular Faculty, Athletics & Recreation or McMaster's Greatest Needs.

For information on additional opportunities, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at ext. 24224.

This year's goal is to receive 650 donations from faculty and staff before Dec. 31, 2007. To make your contribution, you can fill out the pledge card you'll receive in your Community Campaign package or you can make your gift online by going to givetomcmaster.ca.