Campaign nearing halfway mark
New companies, donors, and some outstanding campaigns lend encouragement

United Way of Greater Chattanooga is nearing the halfway point in the 2009 Community Campaign by raising $5.1 million. To date, the organization has satisfied 44 percent of its $11.6 million target goal.  An uncooperative economy, employee layoffs and some plant closures led United Way to lower its annual campaign goals to $11.1 (base goal) and $11.6 million (stretch goal). This year's base goal is $400,000 less than the first-tier goal in 2008.

United Way has reached this point in the 2009 campaign through its volunteers’ hard work and by engaging more than 35 new businesses that did not participate last year. The new companies in Hamilton County that will either give new corporate gifts, hold special events or run employee campaigns are Life Care Centers of America, Easy Auto, Virginia College, City of East Ridge, City of Collegedale, Association for Visual Arts, Create Here, the Southern Star Restaurant, Bright Star, Sun Catchers, Regional Obstetrics Consultants, MBG Organizing Solutions, ADS Security, Worley Parsons, Dixie Home Crafters, Aslinger & Associates, Inhalants & Poisons, Real Estate Partners, B. D. Burke Interiors, Venture Printing, Juke Box Junction, Burner Systems Inc. and Prestige Funeral Service, Inc.

“After much preparation for this year’s United Way campaign “marathon,” we have started the race and two months into the campaign we are going at steady pace with a multitude of worksite campaigns, special events and new opportunities, which have been most encouraging,” said Bill Wilder, United Way’s 2009 Campaign Chairman. “Our goal is to continue our pace and finish strong near the end of the year, knowing that the resources donors invest will make significant impact on our community.”

United Way organizes the local campaign through 21 Units. Activity in these units vary as some are still in the early stages of their campaigns, while others are close to achieving their goals despite the current financial environment. The Campaign Units are Attorneys, Accountants, Dentists, Financial, Foundations & Grants, Insurance, Labor, Leadership Club, Manufacturing, Marion County, Media, Nonprofits, North Georgia, Physicians, Public Sector (city, state, county and federal governments), Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Enterprise, Retirees, Small Business, Technology, and Tocqueville Society.  

These are some of the unit results at this time:

• A report from the Public Sector Unit, led by United Way’s Delores Lewis, puts it at $550,383. That’s 69 percent of its goal, which is $802,717. However, thanks to three cookbook sales promotions in this area and continuing federal campaigns, money will be added to its totals through December. With the exception of money that continues to come in through cookbook sales, both the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County governments have completed their campaigns.
• Forty-two percent (42%) of its $718,196 goal – or $302,899 – has been brought in by the Technology unit, led by EPB VP of Sales Paul Belk, through employee campaign meetings, direct calls and mailings to its members.
• The Real Estate unit, led by CBL’s Alan Lebovitz, has raised 37 percent of its $610,861 goal to date, or $226,773.
• Led by Bill Fuller, Labor completed its fundraising early in the campaign, having pledged more than $191,000 in donations, which exceeded its 2008 total by 8 percent.
• The Accountants unit, led by Steve Lewis with accounting firm Morgan, Lattimer Black and Cain, raised $235,309. That’s more than 97 percent of the Accountants’ $240,944 goal.
• Unum’s Rona Renee Jackson and YMCA’s Randy Brown, co-chairs for the Nonprofit Unit, reported they had reached 70 percent of their $400,137 goal, or $279,325. Two worksite campaigns in this unit that showed increases were the YMCA and United Way.
• The North Georgia Unit has reached 50.2 percent of its $500,000 goal, with $251,027 currently reported. This unit is led by North Georgia Advisory Committee chairman Chandler Peeples, CEO of Container Corp., and North Georgia campaign chairman Leonard Fant, a North Georgia community volunteer and long-time Catoosa County resident.  
• The Retail Unit, headed by Chattanooga Times Free Press CEO Jason Taylor, has reached 31 percent of its $183,096 goal, or $57,196. Mr. Taylor is sending out notices about the United Way campaign in his company’s retail ad invoices, as well as having phone operators from his ad marketing department offering advertisers an opportunity to donate to United Way or have a percentage of their holiday ad purchases go to support United Way’s work.
• The Healthcare Unit is also at 31 percent of its $329,927 goal, with $102,258 being reported by chairman Robert Main, CEO of Siskin Rehabilitation Hospital.  
• Judy Graham and Mark Griffith, co-chairs for the Marion County Unit, reported $8,735 turned in, or 54.5 percent of its $16,000 goal. This is ahead of pace for Marion County compared to previous years. A large number of new business campaigns, special event proceeds and gifts have been secured in Marion County and include Turn the Page Bookstore, Edible Oasis, People’s State Bank, A-1 Stone, The Pit Stop, Top Notch Tumbling, B&A Bounce Around, Slumber Party, the Pet Clinic and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.  

These are some of the worksite campaign highlights at this time:

• Hamilton County Government employees have donated $124,765, surpassing their goal by 11 percent. They did this in part by raising $10,523 through special events and sales, like their golf tournament, motorbike excursions, cook book sales, pancake breakfasts, bake sales, and an auction.
• EPB raised more than $176,000 and beat their campaign goal by $16,000. This company always rises to the top ten campaign performers.  
• Komatsu has raised $56,467 this year, only $5,700 less than last year’s donation. That’s a phenomenal feat considering that last year these employees were working 60 hours a week, and now they are working only one week each month.
• W.R. Grace has reported that their campaign has gone over their goal and past the $40,000 mark. This is great work when you realize they are accomplishing this with fewer employees. Their biggest growth has been in leadership ($1,000+) and step up donors.
• Unum raised approximately $23,000 from special events alone, including “United Wii,” which included department teams competing against each other in “Guitar Hero” and other Wii team sport games, such as Bowling. Their overall giving is up $25,000 over last year and they brought in 212 new donors. Their campaign total is $742,280.

Organization officials urge anyone who hasn’t been given an opportunity to contribute to the campaign to consider making a donation. United Way’s Community Campaign will continue on through the end of December. For more information about the 2009 campaign, contact United Way’s Senior Vice President of Organizational Development Linda McReynolds. To make a financial contribution, organize a worksite campaign, or volunteer through United Way, contact 423-752-0300 or visit www.LiveUnitedChattanooga.org

United Way advances the common good by educating children to be ready for school, promoting economic stability so people can provide for themselves and their families, and by caring for the most vulnerable in our community. Thanks to an endowment fund that covers all overhead and administrative expenses, one hundred percent (100%) of contributions go directly to these services that help individuals and families in greater Chattanooga, including north Georgia and northeast Alabama.

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