A message from our Chair

Wesleyan University Campaign Chairperson

Rani, Arbo, Campus Community Engagement Manager - Center for the Arts

I have made my home in Middletown since 1998 and have been on staff at Wesleyan since 2016. Both of these communities have given me a sense of belonging, given me many gifts, and also opened opportunities for me to pay those gifts forward to others. For me, contributing to Wesleyan's annual United Way Campaign is one of the easiest ways I can pay it  forward, and I’m incredibly  grateful for the work they do to research and prioritize areas of local need (education, health, housing, financial stability, racial equity and inclusion), to create relationships with local organizations, and to distribute our donations.

I live between Wesleyan and Main Street. My neighbors include both the folks who run organizations that United Way supports and many folks who benefit from those services.

Gilead Family Services — founded by two Wesleyan students –  is one of those organizations. Gilead provides profoundly compassionate services for individuals and families who are living with mental health challenges and addiction, and they solicit support for this work in a way that brings a community together in care.

Gilead Community Services and Middlesex United Way both remind me of the African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child.”  But I would add: to do so, the village has to remember - that it is - infact, a village.  I feel incredibly fortunate to have daily reminders of this in my neighborhood, and at Wesleyan. 

Contributing to United Way is one of the ways I can be a part of this caring community. I hope you will join me in supporting this year’s campaign!