United Way kicks off 2011 campaign!
United Way announces $13.8 million goal!
Released Sept. 16, 2011
TOLEDO, Ohio – Today, United Way of Greater Toledo kicked off the 2011 campaign by celebrating a successful week of United Way Days of Caring and by announcing a community goal of $13.8 million.
At this morning’s kickoff, sponsored by Hollywood Casino and O-I, campaign chair Tom Manahan announced the new goal. The campaign, officially running today through December 8, is being led by Manahan, president of The Lathrop Company.
“This has been such an inspiring week,” Manahan said. “The volunteers who set the campaign goal have such a passion for helping this community and the employees who volunteered for the Day of Caring projects accomplished more than we ever thought possible.”
For the first time, United Way coordinated a week of Days of Caring to celebrate kickoff instead of just one. Over the past week, more than 1,500 volunteers from 43 companies gave their time and energy to serve in different capacities around our community. Altogether, these volunteers put in 278,540 hours this week alone! According to the Independent Sector, a network for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs, the value of these volunteer hours is nearly $6 million!
The expanded Day of Caring projects underscores United Way’s move from not just asking people to give financially, but asking our community to give, advocate, and volunteer.
“Lending your time and voice to help find solutions for people in our community is just as important as giving financially,” Manahan continued. “It will take giving, advocating, and volunteering to continue moving the needle in our community. That being said, we could not do much of the work we do without your financial support, which is why we set an ambitious fundraising goal.”
United Way’s 2011 goal of $13.8 million is a three percent increase over the $13.4 million our community raised last year.
“Our campaign volunteers put considerable thought into this number,” said Bill Kitson, president & CEO of United Way of Greater Toledo. “Our volunteers already have a vision for what we need to invest in next year to continue building on the progress we’ve made in education, income, and health, and now we just need our community meet us there.”
Over the past year, United Way has made no secret that education and helping graduate kids is its top priority. As a result, much if the work has centered around that goal.
“Education is the basis for everything,” Kitson continued. “Families having the tools to be financially stable, people having access to health care services, decreasing crime rates, boosting our economic stability… I could go on all day, but it all hinges on education.”
To continue driving the education work, this year Lathrop and SSOE Group have stepped up to sponsor an Education Matching Challenge Grant. Any United Way gift of $100 or greater designated to education will be matched by the Challenge up to $50,000.
Additionally, Mercy and Medical Mutual are sponsoring a $100,000 Leadership Matching Challenge grant. Donors who increase their existing leadership ($1,000 or more) gift or make a new leadership gift will have their increase matched up to $100,000.
Contributions to the 2011 United Way campaign can be made securely online at www.unitedwaytoledo.org, by calling 419-248-2424, or by pledging at your workplace.
*Special thanks to The Andersons, Inc., Fifth Third Bank, Health Care REIT, Inc., KeyBank, and O-I for participating in United Way’s Loaned Executive program.
###
United Way of Greater Toledo creates lasting change by bringing together a broad range of community partners and financial resources to address the underlying causes of the most significant local issues. United Way also supports community services that are accountable for delivering measurable results and advancing the common good.
