Opinion - Whatcom View

POSTED: Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

'Stars' stepping up as United Way campaign reaches midpoint

As the chair of United Way of Whatcom County's 2009 Campaign, it seems that everywhere I go these days and in almost every phone call I receive there seems to be one question on everybody's mind, "So, how's the campaign going this year?" My sense is that the questioner thinks my response will not be so positive, and they are often surprised to hear me say how well everything is going.

This year's campaign is definitely an interesting one. United Way and the community are aware of the many economic challenges that are occurring, but as we hit the mid-way point for the 2009 United Way campaign we are very excited to report that real positives have been realized, new stars have emerged, and the community has once again come together to show their support.

United Way has attracted new participants in workplace campaigns. Several businesses and organizations that did not conduct campaigns last year have reemerged to do them this year. Others have re-energized their campaigns with everything from wellness fairs to raffles and from chili cook-offs to book fairs. One organization, unable to conduct a fund-raising campaign this year, decided to have its employees knit a quilt for one of United Way's partner agencies. Other businesses have donated volunteer hours to those agencies. The Boys & Girls Club in Blaine offered to open their doors to FedEx Trade Networks for its annual garage sale for their United Way campaign. And there have been many other unique collaborations, such as United Way teaming up with the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation to work on a combined giving campaign, an effort that has involved over 50 Hospital employees working on committees and sharing their stories about why they give back to the community.

Through the end of October, United Way staff and Partner Agencies have delivered 125 workplace presentations. That compares to a total of 144 during the entire 2008 campaign.

Some new campaign "stars" have emerged this year: Bellingham Cold Storage, Samson Rope, Olsen Auto Body, Target, Fred Meyer and the YWCA have all realized double-digit percentage increases in their campaign contributions for 2009. Others have shown increases in participation and increases in higher average gifts. Early results indicate that 15 of the first 24 companies to complete their campaigns have shown increases over last year's giving totals or have remained the same.

The United Way workplace giving campaigns will be wrapping up over the coming weeks. The goal for this year's campaign is $2.25 million dollars, a 7 percent increase over 2008. An aggressive goal? You bet. But if everybody continues to help out, it could be within our reach. Let's do it Whatcom County, let's beat the odds and have another record breaking year.

Our call to action at United Way is to live united by giving, advocating, and volunteering. The way our community has pulled together and gone above and beyond once again is not only heartwarming; it is an amazing example of how when we work together we can influence the condition of all. And that's what it means to "Live United!"

Ken Marzocco is president of energy business in the Americas for CH2M Hill and 2009 United Way Campaign Chair.