Dear Lumberjacks,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of our ongoing partnership between NAU and the\u00a0United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA)<\/a><\/strong>, I invite our university community to join in supporting UWNA\u2019s annual campaign. Along with my wife, Rima, I am serving as co-chair of this year\u2019s campaign and can attest to the incredible work taking place at UWNA to support our neighbors and community in advancing education, health, financial well-being, and community resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Importantly, UWNA\u2019s work is closely aligned with NAU\u2019s vision and strategic priority of community engagement and impact. Earlier this fall, we were proud to elevate our partnership with the launch of the\u00a0Golden Ticket<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>program in collaboration with UWNA and Coconino Community College (CCC). Through this initiative, students from UWNA\u2019s KinderCamp program will be able earn an associate\u2019s degree at CCC and then transfer to NAU and complete a bachelor\u2019s degree with full tuition coverage throughout their postsecondary journey. By supporting this program, we are not only helping individuals who stand to benefit the most from higher education achieve their dreams, we are also fostering a more educated and resilient community right here in our home community of Flagstaff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This partnership exemplifies the shared commitment to create lasting, positive change by opening doors to educational opportunities and supporting the well-being of all community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this year\u2019s UWNA campaign, I am proud to share that we have already raised more than $21,000 toward our institutional goal of $30,000. This includes a pledge of $10,000 from the Office of the President to advance educational initiatives being led by UWNA in our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I encourage you to consider contributing to this impactful community organization. Participating is easy; contributions can be made through biweekly payroll deductions starting in January 2025, and you can direct your support to specific UWNA programs that resonate most with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n