Two of EmoryGives’ most intriguing new partnerships will make their appearances later this month. Both encourage the Emory faculty and staff to get out into the community. One has them walking around Atlanta; the other gives them admission to an exclusive sale.

EmoryGives is partnering with the Southeast affiliate of the American Heart Association for its Nov. 16 Heart Walk at Turner Field. Donations to the Heart Walk will count toward Emory Healthcare’s $100,000 campaign goal. Since the American Heart Association is a member agency of Community Health Charities —one of EmoryGives’ partners—a collaboration of this sort was natural.

And it’s been very successful. The goal was to recruit 1,800 walkers from the Emory community—about 2,000 already have signed up.

On Nov. 17, Parisian Phipps Plaza is hosting a holiday shopping party exclusively for EmoryGives from 6–10 p.m. Purchase of a $5 ticket earns admission to the party where regular, sale and clearance purchases all will be 20 percent off.

There will be merchandise giveaways; free alterations, gift wrap and makeup consultations; several gift and fashion programs; and hors d’oeuvres, beverages and live entertainment.
The 20 percent discount tickets are good during regular store hours at all Atlanta-area Parisian locations. Tickets are on sale at several locations across campus, including the Dobbs Center information desk, the P.E. Center, the institutional advancement office at Oxford College and the Emory Clinic concierge desks. For a full list of ticket locations, refer to the EmoryGives website (www.emorygives.emory.edu).

As for the regular EmoryGives campaign, donations started rolling in Oct. 1, and so far the Emory community has been quite generous.

“We’ve been getting a steady stream of ‘Angel’ donors,” said Michelle Smith, director of corporate giving. “Angel” donors are those employees or faculty members who give at least $1,000 to EmoryGives—they are termed “Emory Angels.”

Before the campaign ends Dec. 31, EmoryGives hopes to raise $425,000.

The focus this fall will be in raising money. In the spring, Smith will shift gears and turn her attention to collecting the Emory community’s time.

EmoryGives’ volunteer component is being promoted heavily. The video presentation Smith takes to meetings outlines it in depth (see First Person), and the EmoryGives website provides a great deal of detail about its 14 partner organizations and the volunteer opportunities they offer. In the spring, website information about volunteering will be expanded.