As part of the Maricopa Community College District, Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) is committed to the district-wide effort of helping our local communities through the Valley of the Sun United Way. Estrella Mountain has supported this noteworthy organization for more than 15 years, choosing a local charity to focus on each year. This year, the college's charitable efforts were focused on St. Mary's Food Bank, the second largest food bank in the country.
Struck by the staggering numbers of suffering Arizonans, the college began the month-long fundraiser on October 1 by holding a food drive, hosting an online auction, asking college employees to participate in payroll deduction donations, and hosting a college-wide luncheon on October 31. The month culminated with a total of 7,000 pounds of food for St. Mary's Food Bank and $46,077 collected for the Valley of the Sun United Way. Approximately $10,000 will go directly to St. Mary's Food Bank, while the remaining amount will be disbursed to other charitable organizations around the valley.
"The success of the food drive was due to the participation of so many campus-wide," said Pete Turner, education faculty and United Way Committee member at Estrella Mountain Community College. "7,000 pounds of food means that, over the course of the month, we averaged bringing in almost 350 pounds per day!"Estrella Mountain President, Dr. Ernest Lara, thanked the campus for their support of the 2008 United Way Campaign. "In these difficult times, the contributions and participation of faculty, staff and students, will have a tremendous and direct impact our community," he said.