April is Employee Giving Month and provides the perfect opportunity to support the UC Davis programs and services you care about, along with helping our community members in urgent need.

Whether you’re inspired by a leisurely stroll through the Arboretum and Public Garden, the heartfelt care for animals provided by our world-class School of Veterinary Medicine, the pioneering public health efforts at UC Davis Health or any of the myriad other ways our university improves lives every day, you can find a cause that is meaningful to you and helps students succeed. There is also the Staff Emergency Fund, which helps colleagues who need assistance paying for housing, utilities, food, transportation and more.

Inspired to give back

As a physical plant mechanic for Building Maintenance Services on the night operations team, Robert Galindo maintains, installs and repairs equipment and facilities throughout the main campus. “It’s very important that we respond swiftly to emergency calls, to give a diagnosis and call the responsible parties so that research is not lost,” he said.

Galindo, who was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma in 2019, takes pride in protecting research that may lead to medical breakthroughs. His work is a reminder that every employee at UC Davis makes an important impact on the world.

Today, Galindo’s cancer is in remission. But the fight to eradicate cancer motivates him to give through payroll deduction to the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The impact that research has made on my life by giving me a second chance has motivated me to contribute and give back,” he said.

A simple way to contribute

It’s easy to participate in Employee Giving Month as part of Give Day. Early giving has already begun for the event, which takes place Friday-Saturday (April 19-20). Employee Giving has its own page on the Give Day website, which heightens attention and access, and reinforces a key point: Every gift makes a difference.

Employee Giving Month runs through April 30 and provides a way to help keep UC Davis strong. And it’s easy to give as little as $10 each month through payroll deduction.