United Way kicks off 62nd campaign
Published 11:07 am Wednesday, September 24, 2014
On Sept. 6, United Way kicked off the 62nd Annual Fund Drive with $70,000 already raised toward a goal of $1 million.
In 2013, $881,418 was raised and is providing year-round funding to 24 partner agencies and four Community Solutions Initiatives.
The important part of the funding raised, United Way officials say, is strategic investments United Way board members make that focus on three areas:
Education – Graduation and Beyond: More children ready for school, choosing to pursue additional education and eventually ready to enter the workforce
Income – From Crisis to Stability: Strengthening family financial stability for this generation and the next
Health – The Path to a Healthy Life: Identify and implement strategies which help people lead long, healthy lives.
The kickoff Day of Caring event brought out 140 volunteers at nine sites across the county who together donated 560 hours of volunteer service valued at more than $12,000.
And this work is not done yet, officials say, as several volunteer events were scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14, at Gerhardt Park in Sequim and will be at future dates to be determined in Port Angeles, Forks and Clallam Bay.
This year’s campaign is being revamped with new ideas and planning around best practices for making the greatest impact for communities, United Way representatives say. A key group of volunteers provides leadership and direction to the annual campaign, recruits volunteers and gets the entire community mobilized in raising local funds that stay in the community.
Soon, many United Way volunteers will be wearing their Live United T-shirts and asking their peers and community members to make an investment that prograsm officials say changes lives.
Campaign chairman this year is Lisa Meyer, vice president and branch manager of US Bank, Port Angeles. “This year we are focusing on partnerships and working together to make our county thrive,” Meyer said.
Tammy Rux, branch manager of Sequim Wells Fargo, will chair the Sequim campaign, with the assistance of Paul McHugh, a retired realtor.
Julie Black and Rich Newman are co-chairing the Olympic Medical Center Employees Combined Fund Drive.
Iva Burks and Patty Rosand will lead the Clallam County employee effort.
Port Angeles Business campaigns and Corporate Gifts will be guided by Corey Delikat, Port Angeles Parks and Recreations Director. The Port Angeles campaign will be led by Jo Johnston, Green Crow. Grant Munro is chairing the Olympic Club leadership giving portion of the campaign.
In other Clallam County areas, Pam Hunter, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, is championing the Forks campaign; Trisha Haggerty, Crescent School District school board member and Peninsula College administrative staff, will lead the Joyce campaign; and George Eastman will guide the Clallam Bay/Sekiu drive.
United Way of Clallam County provides funding year-round to 24 local partner agencies and four Community Solutions Initiatives. A new partner agency, just accepted this year, is the Dungeness Valley Health and Wellness Clinic.
In 2014 United Way granted $95,800 to Great Beginnings Early Learning projects.
For information about this year’s campaign or how to get involved, contact Jody Moss or Scott Brandon of United Way at 457-3011.
