Foundation – CNHP – Liberal Arts – Outreach & Engagement – RCOB – Rice Library – Biology – Pott College Office 3255 – Registrar Office
The Giving Trees are in place at the above locations and are decorated with gift request ornaments representing 32 USI families, including 61 children!
The Giving Tree is an outreach program sponsored by Staff Council that provides gifts to university employees and students with children who are in need of assistance during the holiday season.
Staff Council invites you to please take one (or two) ornaments or make a charitable gift to the Giving Tree to help brighten the winter holiday season for a USI family.
After taking an ornament (or two) from a tree, purchase the requested item and wrap it. Attach the ornament securely to the wrapped gift and return the gift to the tree the ornament was taken from by Thursday, December 9, 2021.
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Your charitable gift to the Giving Tree can be made through the USI Foundation and will be used for the purchase of items requested in the Giving Tree program.
Make your gift online at USI.edu/onlinegiving
or by check made payable to the USI Foundation by Tuesday, December 7, 2021.
(Checks can be mailed to USI Foundation, 8600 University Blvd., Evansville, IN 47712. If hand-delivery is needed, please call ext. 1918)
Individuals who make a gift to the USI Foundation for the Giving Tree will receive a charitable gift receipt. Gifts of any amount are accepted.
Join Staff Council in continuing this tradition of care for the USI Community.
If you have any questions, please email us: Staff.Council@usi.edu
Did You Know?
Since its inception in 2001, an average of 20-25 families receive assistance each year, with over 60+ children receiving gifts of clothing and toys.
During the Holiday Season (November -December) office locations on campus will host a tree where ornaments, representing families requesting assistance, can be selected with a gift wish on it for a child, youth or an adult. Early in November, an online application and paper forms will be made available for those who need assistance during the holiday season. Emails will be sent out announcing the beginning of the application process.
The Giving Tree originally began as an outreach of Student Affairs. While brainstorming at a Student Affairs Retreat, Dr. John Byrd, former vice president for Student Affairs, asked for ideas that their division could implement for the University community. Donna Moore, Chris Jines and Pam Hopson formed the idea of a giving tree for students and/or staff in need. Student Affairs agreed to purchase four artificial trees to be placed around campus.
Staff Council began sponsoring this yearly mission in 2001 and developed the criteria for eligibility. There were 34 individual people who received gifts the first year.