March 27, 2006

Red, white and blue yard signs will start springing up across the Columbus area this week as volunteers supporting Columbus State University prepare for its 12th annual CSU Day.

About 100 volunteers, including those representing several organizations, are donating their time to distribute signs that proclaim, We are partners with Columbus State University.

Its a real diverse community group, CSU Annual Fund Director Meri Robinson said of the volunteer force. Weve got honor students, the womens soccer team, faculty and staff, CSU coaches, a local realty firm and players with the Columbus Vipers arena football team putting up signs.

CSU President Frank Brown even made a few deliveries himself late last week as the signs began going out to individuals and businesses that have contributed financially to the university.

This is a time of the year when we try to say thanks to the hundreds of people locally who make it possible for us to educate students for career and life success, Brown said Monday. Our supporters donations to the Annual Fund make it possible for us to offer educational and enrichment experiences that inspire our students and the faculty who teach them.

This weeks activities climax Thursday, on CSU Day. Scores of volunteers will gather at the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center for Continuing Education for breakfast and a brief message by former Columbus City Manager Carmen Cavezza, now executive director of CSUs Cunningham Center for Leadership Development. Then the legion of volunteers will fan out and travel hundreds of miles across Columbus and beyond to deliver the remaining yard signs along designated routes.

CSU Days $80,000 fund-raising goal will bolster the university's 2005-06 Annual Fund drive toward $1.375 million to support academic and athletic scholarships, new technology, international education and community outreach programs. More than 450 volunteers from CSU and several Columbus-area businesses have been reaching out to donors since the Annual Fund kicked off last fall.

Columbus Bank and Trust executive Cissy Giglio, a 1992 and 1996 CSU graduate, is this years campaign chair for CSU Day. Volunteer team captains this year are Brian Wieczorek , Sharon McRae , Torrey Wiley , John Calhoun , Bob Carter , Lance Hemmings , Sommer Gowdy, Corrin Riley , Brenda Williams and Douglas Bryant .

Persons interested in making a CSU Day donation or volunteering can call 562-1596 or 565-4094. Online donations to CSU are always welcome at http://ua.colstate.edu/giving/giving.htm. For more information, visit http://ua.colstate.edu/development/csuday.htm.