More than $500,000 was raised for this year's United Way campaign in Monroe County from Indiana University as Bloomington campus employees exceeded their goal by more than $40,000.

Peg Stice, executive director of the United Way of Monroe County, said the $541,590 raised at IU was 108 percent of the $500,000 goal and the largest amount ever contributed to the annual campaign from the university.

"We know that Indiana University makes the needs of the entire community a top priority, and we are very grateful that the United Way campaign is a focal point for that caring," said Stice at last week's campaign celebration. "IU ran a terrific campaign. Thousands of people will benefit from this generosity."

Stice said credit for the achievement belongs to IU campaign co-chairs Christopher Simpson, vice president for public affairs and government relations, and Dorothy Frapwell, university counsel, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

"Leadership is just one part of the campaign on campus," said Frapwell. "More than 165 IUB employees took on various leadership roles on campus to help educate their colleagues about the 26 United Way agencies and many other eligible not-for-profit groups that employees assisted through their campaign donations."

"The true spirit of a university is reflected by its contributions to the community, and the United Way is an excellent example of this stewardship," said Simpson. "Every IU employee and student who participated in this drive deserves congratulations for the success achieved."

The Vanguard Leadership of donors contributing $1,000 or more involved 175 IUB employees, compared to 142 the previous year. More than half of the county-wide givers at this level were from IUB, said Jim Muehling, Vanguard Leadership co-chair, who is on the staff at the IU Foundation.

"Leadership giving is critical because it sets the tone for the campaign," Muehling said, "and we are pleased with this substantial increase from IU at the Vanguard level."