Campaign Extended Through January 31, 2010
United Way only $800,000 from stretch goal!

United Way of Greater Chattanooga is only $800,000 from reaching the top tier stretch goal of $11.6 million for the 2009 Community Campaign. To date, the organization has raised $10.8 million towards its campaign goals of $11.1 (base goal) and $11.6 million (stretch goal).

“We are following this year’s marathon theme by striving to finish strong in the last few weeks of the 2009 United Way Community Campaign. Our campaign staff and volunteers are working hard to wrap up some remaining work place campaigns while also getting out the message that it is not too late to give to this year’s campaign, even in January of 2010. We’re getting closer to our goal and have reached $10.8 million in support, which is 93% of our stretch goal of $11.6 million. The response to our 2009 campaign has been tremendous so far, but we still have a way to go to finalize it,” said 2009 Campaign Chairman Bill Wilder, VP of BB&T Huffaker and Trimble. “The significant increase in calls to United Way’s 2-1-1 Resource Center in 2009 reflects the tremendous needs in our community. There have been approximately 58,000 calls in 2009, which is a 33 percent increase over 2008 call activity. The needs these calls represent are straining or exhausting the available resources of many of our partner agencies and they demonstrate our urgency to meet our 2009 campaign goal.”

Here are a few notable workplace and unit campaign results during 2009:

• Hamilton County Government employees have surpassed 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 raised almost as much as they did last year, which is a phenomenal feat considering that in 2008 these employees were working 60 hours a week, but during much of 2009 worked 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.
• Led by Bill Fuller, Labor has completed its fundraising, having pledged more than $191,000 in donations, which exceeded its 2008 total by 8 percent.
• The North Georgia Unit has reached 96 percent of its $500,000 goal, with $480,594 reported before Christmas. 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.

Organization officials urge anyone who hasn’t been given an opportunity to contribute to the campaign to consider making a donation. Because of the challenges caused by the economy this year, United Way’s Community Campaign has been extended and gifts can be received through January 31, 2010. 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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