CMU deepens partnership with local United Way

For roughly 50 years, Central Michigan University students, faculty and staff have supported the United Way of Greater Central Michigan through fundraising events, collection drives, and the annual employee giving program. 

Now, the university is expanding its involvement in a key community-focused initiative, United for Moms, with CMU First Lady Leanne MacKinnon and CMU’s fraternities and sororities leading the charge. 

CMU gets United for Moms

Annie Sanders, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Central Michigan, said the United for Moms initiative is a month-long collection drive seeking to gather personal care items, cleaning products and baby needs.

“This initiative is all about coming together as a community to support mothers across our region who may be facing barriers,” Sanders said. “We work with several local nonprofit organizations to put the donated items directly into the hands of mothers and families who need them most. Access to these simple items can ease the financial stress for local families and make a truly meaningful impact.”

United for Moms has been a part of Greek Week at CMU for the past three years, Sanders said, with CMU fraternities and sororities collecting thousands of personal care items for local mothers and families.

This year, CMU is also inviting faculty and staff to donate items in the month of May, with a personal appeal from First Lady Leanne MacKinnon.

“As a mother, I know how important it is to have the support and resources necessary to care for your family,” MacKinnon said. “United for Moms is a powerful way for our community to come together and ensure that mothers have access to the everyday essentials that make a real difference. I am honored to be part of something that directly supports mothers across our region.”

Beginning Friday, May 1, CMU community members can drop off personal care items at one of two campus-based locations: the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, located on the lower level of the Bovee University Center, room 106; or the Carlin Alumni House, located on Bellows Street. 

This year, CMU is also inviting faculty and staff to donate items in the month of May, with a personal appeal from First Lady Leanne MacKinnon.

“As a mother, I know how important it is to have the support and resources necessary to care for your family,” MacKinnon said. “United for Moms is a powerful way for our community to come together and ensure that mothers have access to the everyday essentials that make a real difference. I am honored to be part of something that directly supports mothers across our region.”

Beginning Friday, May 1, CMU community members can drop off personal care items at one of two campus-based locations: the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, located on the lower level of the Bovee University Center, room 106; or the Carlin Alumni House, located on Bellows Street.

Members of the university community can also take their donations to the collection event between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on May 28^th at Island Park in Mount Pleasant.

Fraternity and Sorority Life steps up

CMU’s Fraternity and Sorority Life community, often called Greek Life, has been actively supporting the United Way for many years, said Molly Schuneman, associate director in the Office of Student Activities and Involvement. This year, the student organizations held events including Greek Games, Pie a President, a Day of Service, and more. 

“This year, CMU fraternities and sororities raised $40,000 for Mid-Michigan Industries, a Mount Pleasant non-profit that supports employment opportunities for people with diverse abilities – and United Way is the fiduciary agent through which we donate those funds,” Schuneman said. “In addition, Greeks United for Moms collected more than 2,000 items for local moms and families.”

Their signature event, Mock Rock, is a key part of their fundraising efforts and the culmination of Greek Week activities, Schuneman said. And while it is perhaps the most visible, it is not the only way students give back.

“Community service and philanthropy are core values of our fraternity and sorority community — these students want to be part of something bigger than themselves, and they show up ready and willing to serve,” she said. “During the Day of Service, more than 480 Greek Life students were out in 12 different local agencies – and that was just a single day. Throughout the year, they contribute over 8,800 hours of service annually.”

A history of support - looking back with Clarke Historical Library

Since the early 1970s, student groups on campus have supported the local community through United Way. As far back as 1974, there are mentions of the CMU Student Foundation hosting collection drives to gather needed supplies for local residents. And, beginning in the fall of 1976, the Central Michigan Life student newspaper documented Alan Quick, then-dean of the School of Continuing Education and Community Services, serving as chair of the Isabella County United Way drive – and thanking faculty, staff and students for their participation.

From the 1970s to the mid-2020s, the CMU community has engaged with our local United Way on numerous efforts, including the popular Dance United event in the mid-2010s. Today, a committee of faculty and staff leaders co-chair the annual United Way employee giving campaign, and CMU Fraternity and Sorority Life hosts numerous events to collect items and raise funds for United Way affiliate organizations.