The university’s Good Neighbors Campaign, USC’s annual employee-giving initiative organized by Civic Engagement, began Oct. 1 with a $1.6 million fundraising goal to support key university-community partnership programs.

The campaign promotes better health and educational opportunities in the areas surrounding the Health Sciences and University Park campuses. Begun in 1994, the USC Good Neighbors Campaign encourages USC faculty and staff to contribute a portion of their paychecks to support programs that help strengthen local communities through USC Neighborhood Outreach and United Way. Students, alumni and friends can also participate.

To date, the campaign has raised more than $17.7 million to support more than 600 community partnership programs. The 2015 campaign runs through the end of this month.

For more information or to give online, visit goodneighbors.usc.edu.