Rain doesn’t stop Chrysler

Chrysler employees recently kicked off their annual campaign amidst rain with the United Way Olympics.

This annual event typically allows management and staff to compete in Olympic-style events, but this year, the weather had other plans for the company. The event moved inside, and employees were still able to support United Way through a bake sale and school supply and backpack drive. Employees also collected books and basic needs items to support United Way. Staff will also have the opportunity to see their management team slimed at a Nickelodeon Leadership Slime Time event that will be rescheduled in October. Overall, the kick-off event raised $60,000.

During the event, more than 1,500 books were collected and delivered to Catholic Social Services of Oakland County, Child Care Coordinating Council of Detroit/Wayne County and Michigan State University Extension in Macomb County.  The books are being used by these agencies to provide preschoolers with literacy training in their homes, as part of United Way’s Women’s Initiative Early Childhood Literacy Program.

The 200 backpacks and school supplies that were donated by employees were delivered to students of Priest Elementary School. These items are being used to assist students with poor attendance as part of United Way’s Virgil H. Carr School Attendance Initiative.

More than 500 boxes of food and basic needs items were collected at the kick-off and delivered to the American Red Cross Southeastern Michigan Chapter, Gleaners Community Food Bank for Southeastern Michigan, Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS), and HAVEN.

Ford Motor Co. hits one out of the park

Ford Motor Co. has already completed its campaign and is hoping for outstanding results. The company’s goal was to increase participation to 80 percent among salaried workers and 53 percent among hourly employees. While results are still being tabulated, the company found many ways to engage its staff.

Ford Credit’s theme was “The Year of the Tiger”, focusing on baseball. Their annual Tricycle Races pitted departments against each other to design and race tricycles around a baseball diamond-shaped racetrack. The company also held a used book sale and a traveling bake sale, allowing employees throughout the building to enjoy homemade goodies and support United Way.

Ford is also gearing up for its online auction that allows employees to bid on high value items such as Ford memorabilia, sports memorabilia, and tickets to sporting and other events. Proceeds benefit the campaign. The company is also finalizing plans for its annual dealer event, which will be a golf outing. This event gives dealership owners throughout the region a special opportunity to support United Way and network with one another and the company’s management team.

General Motors Corp. serves up excitement

General Motors concluded its campaign on September 18 after more than a month of stimulating events designed to build awareness about United Way and encourage employees to support the campaign.

The company began its campaign on August 9 with a region-wide, simultaneous event celebrating United Way. Troy Clarke, president, GM North America, and chair of United Way’s annual campaign, visited each of GM’s four locations to interact with employees. At the Renaissance Center, GM executives served ice cream to staff while talking about United Way. The ice cream social continued at every location, generating excitement and awareness about the coming campaign.

General Motors also engaged its dealership owners through its annual dealer event. This year’s event, “Ride and Drive”, occurred at the Milford Proving Grounds and gave attendees the opportunity to ride in GM products built worldwide with professional racecar drivers. They also had the chance to experience off road conditions in a Hummer. This successful event doubled last year’s effort, raising more than $280,000 for United Way.

This week marked the finale of General Motors’ campaign, with a live auction in the GM Wintergarden. Items for bid included GM branded items, tickets to sporting events, including the Daytona 500, and items commemorating sporting events, such as a Super Bowl game ball. The auction netted more than $13,000 for the campaign.

Throw a party – United Way style!

One important aspect of every United Way campaign is to promote interest and excitement about United Way to your employees and above all, to have fun! The annual campaign gives many companies a break from the routine and the opportunity for coworkers to interact with one another, get involved in their community, and see the benefit United Way offers them and their families.

To kick off your campaign, schedule a special event for employees to hear from United Way staff, a representative from your company, such as the CEO, and any other individuals who would motivate your employees to contribute. This initial event helps rally employees around the campaign and conveys important information such as the campaign goal and other special events that will take place.

Throughout your campaign, it’s important to keep the excitement alive. Having a theme for the campaign personalizes it and creates a commonality for employees. Plan additional events over the duration of your campaign to remind employees about the campaign and provide additional fundraising opportunities. Bake sales, contests, special lunches, and other events allow employees to connect with one another on a different level, rally around a common cause, and meet your campaign goals. 

For assistance in planning events to support your company’s campaign, contact your United Way representative.