Tampa, FL (April 13, 2006) – The 2006 USF Faculty/Staff Campaign is gearing up and everyone at USF Health can help. This annual fundraising effort directly affects students by providing much needed funding for scholarships, research and programs.

And what's unique about the campaign is that you may designate where your gift goes, whether it's among the funds at USF Health or other funds across USF that are important to you. This means your donation makes a lasting impact in each area you choose to support.

There are three areas at USF Health collecting contributions for this year's campaign. All three are going for 100 percent participation, which is one of the strongest statements we can make for our commitment to students.

USF goal: $1,150,000.

College of Medicine

Goal: $215,000

Representatives: Maria Rutter mrutter@health.usf.edu, Steven Specter sspecter@health.usf.edu

College of Nursing

Goal: $29,000

Representatives: Joan Gregory jgregory@health.usf.edu, Aleatha Neal aneal@health.usf.edu

College of Public Health

Goal: $25,000

Representative: Sandy Miller smiller@health.usf.edu

- USF Health -

USF Health is the University of South Florida's enterprise of researchers, teachers and clinicians dedicated to improving the full continuum of health. Its core is the colleges of Public Health, Nursing and Medicine, including a School of Physical Therapy, as well as the healthcare delivered by its 450 physicians and more than 100 nurse practitioners. In partnership with its affiliated hospitals, USF Health's research funding last year was $134 million -- more than half of which came from federal sources. Last year, USF health clinicians cared for more than 31,000 patients and oversaw 396,000 outpatient visits.