SPRINGDALE — University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long promised to double his personal contribution for the 2017 United Way campaign and challenged others with means to join him.
The 2017 campaign theme is "Paint Their Future Bright," a theme targeted at reducing the number of children living in poverty in Northwest Arkansas. In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated 25,798 children were living in poverty in the metropolitan area.
"Northwest Arkansas is a great place to live," Long said. "There are a group of people who don't see the greatness of Northwest Arkansas."
Long and Sandi Morris, who won a silver medal in pole vaulting at the summer Olympics, joined about 60 community members just after sunrise Thurday in the Sam's Club Community Room at Arvest Ballpark to kick off the United Way campaign season. Long declined to discuss the amount of his personal contribution.
Workplace campaigns will take place at 200 organizations this fall, said Christina Hinds, vice president of resource development for United Way of Northwest Arkansas.
The goal is to raise $3.5 million across the region, said Mike Russel, a United Way board member who is this year's campaign director. Russel agreed to take Long's challenge, sharing with the group at Arvest Ballpark his promise to double his contribution. The United Way campaign also kicks off today for Russel's employer, Proctor & Gamble, he said.