United Way Kicks 2007 Campaign into Gear

Summer may be winding down but United Way is gearing up -- for our annual fundraising campaign that is, which kicks off on Sept. 7.

“Together, we can make a difference for those in need in our community,” said Troy Clarke, United Way campaign chair and General Motors North America President and Group Vice President, Manufacturing. “Every contribution – in every amount – matters.”

Clarke leads 40 volunteers who are serving on this year’s campaign cabinet, which is responsible for steering the campaign. Additionally, about 1,000 volunteers are expected to help United Way engage contributors by coordinating workplace campaigns across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

The goal for the annual campaign will be set this month, but many activities are already in the works to motivate current donors and connect new participants to United Way’s work. Employees at Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. are eagerly joining the effort, kicking their campaigns off prior to Sept. 7, and bringing early momentum to the drive. Organized labor also kicked off its campaign in early August at the General Motors Hamtramck Plant. Clarke joined United Way board member and International Union UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn, Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO President Saundra Williams and International Union UAW Director of Community Services Linda Lash at the event.

United Way also recently launched Leadership Next, which engages emerging leaders across the region. Already, the group has seen excellent turnout at three events, including networking functions and skill-building workshops.

The official start of the campaign will be marked with the traditional lighting of the United Way torch at the intersection of Woodward and Jefferson in downtown Detroit. Following the early morning ceremony nearly 1,000 volunteers are scheduled to participate in community service projects throughout the tri-county area as part of United Way’s annual Days of Caring – continuing through Sept. 9.

Volunteers can choose from approximately 50 projects that range from spending time with youth through Big Brothers Big Sisters to grounds beautification at a host of nonprofits across the region.

By contributing to the campaign, you help tackle the most pressing issues facing this region. Your gift, no matter how large or small, makes a difference because it is combined with others. The impact of that collective investment is significant.

Through the Agenda for Change, our new business plan for the region, United Way is focusing our efforts on educational preparedness, financial stability and basic needs. We believe that by doing so, we can make lasting improvements in the lives of individuals and families in southeast Michigan.

To make a difference in the community through United Way, please support the campaign.  There are still volunteer opportunities available for the Days of Caring projects. To sign up, click here.

More Oakland County Callers Dialing 2-1-1

Calls to United Way's 2-1-1 from Oakland County topped 18 percent for the first time since the service was launched and overall, users across the region are dialing into the call center at a higher rate than in 2006.

The 2-1-1 call center handled nearly 70,000 calls through July 31, a 40 percent increase over the prior year. Volume for the month – at 11,105 – was up 7 percent from June’s rate, according to the July 2-1-1 monthly report. [PDF]

Oakland County residents, who typically account for about 11-12 percent of calls, have been calling with increasing frequency. Callers have been most interested in getting assistance with utilities, rent and food pantries.

“The Oakland United Way office, its Local Community Committee and many agencies in Oakland County have been very diligent to getting the word out on 2-1-1. We are seeing the result of this ongoing effort,” said Bill Sullivan, director of operations.

LCCs are volunteer groups made up of residents of each county and the city of Detroit who assist United Way in the planning and development of programs in their respective community.

Another interesting 2-1-1 development has unfolded in Wayne County, where for the first time since 2-1-1 debuted, the majority of callers are requesting help finding food.

Utility assistance has consistently ranked No. 1 on the list of 2-1-1 service requests. However, in July, 23 percent of Wayne County callers were looking for food pantries, while 22 percent needed help with gas bills.

Typically, 2-1-1 sees a spike in calls regarding food pantries in July because most children are home on summer recess and no longer receiving free meals in school, Sullivan said. But this is the first time since 2-1-1 debuted in December 2005 that food requests have ranked No. 1.

Employment, electric utilities and housing assistance rounded out the top five service requests in Wayne County.

In Macomb County, assistance with gas bills was by far the top request, followed by food, shelter and rent assistance.
 
Based upon the first two quarters of 2007, projected annual 2-1-1 call volume is 150,000, a 50 percent increase over 2006.

In addition to increasing needs across the region, more metro Detroiters are dialing 2-1-1 because of United Way’s involvement in a number of collaborative efforts like the statewide mortgage foreclosure initiative led by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and other agencies.

United Way is also working with the Detroit Wayne County Long-Term Care Connection, which connects Detroit area residents to long-term care services.

And through the Osborn Project, a Good Neighborhoods Initiative, 2-1-1 links callers to agencies that help address their overall financial needs. The Project was developed to promote economic self-sufficiency and stability for area residents.

With our Agenda for Change, United Way is working to help more people of all ages meet their needs and move toward financial stability.  In addition to focusing on educational preparedness and financial stability, our basic needs work is integral to this mission.

Campaign Tip of the Month
The Importance of Asking

According to United Way research, the primary reason people don’t contribute to the annual campaign is because they are not asked. Put simply — there is no task more important than asking people to give.

TIP: Asking in person truly makes a difference. The two most successful ways to do so are the one-to-one (personal or individual) request and the group request. And please be sure to ask everyone!

The One-to-One Request
You should begin making one-to-one requests as soon as possible. In fact, start making one-to-one requests of your Leadership Givers ($1,000 plus) prior to campaign kickoff. Extend requests to everyone else in the organization at the campaign kickoff meeting and continue reaching out until the entire staff has been asked to contribute.

The Approach
Each employee is asked by a fellow worker (the campaign volunteer) to contribute. This allows contributors time to ask questions and hear firsthand how United Way improves lives and communities across the region. Successful one-to-one requests require trained campaigners who are knowledgeable about United Way and skilled at asking for a contribution.

Advantages of One-to-One Requests

• Campaigners can tailor the United Way message to individual employees.
• Campaigners can ask for contributions and answer questions individually.
• Campaigners can find out why a nonparticipating employee doesn’t contribute and then address any concerns related to that decision.

Tips for one-to-one requests

• Recruit key people from each department. Try to get one volunteer for every 10–15 employees.
• Try to use volunteers. They tend to be more effective than those who are chosen or asked.
• Plan agency tours, volunteer speakers and use other tools to inform volunteers about United Way.

The Group Request
If you’re planning group requests, make sure that managers and employees are told before attending a meeting that they’ll be asked to contribute to United Way.

The Approach
After hearing the United Way story and seeing the campaign video, ask everyone to make their pledge using the card provided by United Way or your payroll department. Collect pledge cards as people leave the meeting.

Tips for a Successful Group Meeting

• History indicates the best results are achieved when meetings are scheduled at the start of a workday and accommodate between 15 and 50 participants.
• Greet everyone as they enter and hand out personalized pledge cards
• Keep a list of meeting attendees and compare it with returned cards
• Based on your list, follow up personally with those employees who did not pledge
• United Way strongly recommends that a trained account manager or Speakers Bureau member attend meetings to address your co-workers and to answer their questions

Taken from the 2007 Campaign Coordinator Handbook [PDF]

Campaign Tools
The Workplace Campaign Toolkit

Having the right tools to run your campaign is essential. United Way has a complete tool chest of resources available to campaign coordinators.

Brochures and Contributor Guides: Our brochures outline how United Way works, describes our new Agenda for Change and explains standard giving options. Included in this section is information for contributors, new employees and retirees.

Campaign Coordinators Handbook: This guide offers great tips for Employee Campaign Coordinators to help raise money and generate excitement about United Way in your workplace campaign.

Certificates: Thank your contributors with these customizable certificates of appreciation.

Communication Templates: These documents can be customized to come from the CEO or an Employee Campaign Coordinator. Send as an email or interoffice memo.

Customizable Templates: These documents can be customized to include your company logo.

Exhibits, Speakers & Agency Tours: Access forms to request an Agency Exhibit or Speaker for your company meeting or campaign event, or to schedule an Agency Tour.

Leadership Giving materials: Information for individuals who are interested in making a contribution at the Leadership Giving level ($1,000+). Includes details on Leadership Giving benefits and special giving opportunities through the Tocqueville Society, the Women's Initiative and the Virgil H. Carr Society.

Logos: For use on printed materials, Web pages and campaign correspondence.

Multimedia: Use these video and sound files to enhance your campaign presentations. If you would like to receive any of these files on DVD or CD-ROM, please contact your Campaign Representative.

Payroll Stuffers: These stuffers advertise United Way's new Agenda for Change and can be easily inserted into a standard #10 envelope.

Pledge Forms: In order to keep pledge processing efficient and uniform, we encourage campaigns to use the official United Way pledge form.

Posters: Included in this section are Appeal and Thank You posters, as well as posters that can be customized to include your company's logo and campaign details.

Promotional Items: Purchase a variety of United Way apparel and gifts. The United Way Store offers exclusive designs, custom imprinting and themed merchandise lines. And, all profits generated by your purchases stay within United Way, furthering the work of the United Way system.

Success Stories: Meet some of the many people helped by United Way. Use their stories to help raise awareness and generate excitement about United Way in your workplace campaign.

Web Banners: Available in a variety of sizes, post these banners on your company intranet or Web site.

Download materials today by logging on to www.uwsem.org/campaignctr/tools.html or contact your United Way campaign representative to order materials or obtain additional information.

Upcoming events
Kickoff United Way’s annual campaign with a day of caring

The dollars you give to support United Way’s annual campaign allow the organization to improve lives and communities across the region, and while those funds are sorely needed each year, the time you donate to help out those around you is valuable as well.

That’s why United Way is asking you to mark your calendar for the Days of Caring campaign kickoff event Sept. 7- 9.Those interested in participating in this annual volunteer blitz can sign up online by clicking here, or call 313.226.9337.

The Days of Caring kickoff effort attracts thousands of metro Detroiters who give anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days over a weekend each year completing beautification, ramp building, tutoring children, sorting donated food items, tree planting, home construction projects and other activities that make a difference in communities across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. United Way invites you to join them.

Over 45 organizations have already come forward this year looking for volunteers. Both individual and group opportunities are available. In fact, families, service organizations and groups of workers from area companies are encouraged to participate.

"This is an opportunity for groups, families and individuals to come out, roll up their sleeves and help others in their community. At the same time, engaging your organization in a community volunteer project is a great team-building activity and morale booster," says Angela Walker, volunteer program specialist at United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

"Having colleagues roll up their sleeves to volunteer to help the people and communities United Way serves is a hands-on experience that leaves a lasting impression."

Take action now
Support early childhood education

As part of United Way's focus on Educational Preparedness, we are advocating for the Education Begins at Home Act, which will give many more children across the nation a quality early childhood experience. If this bill passes, Michigan would be eligible for $13.1 million that will provide quality early childhood home visitation programs for targeted communities and strengthen the home visitation component of Headstart. Home visitation is an effective, research-based and cost-efficient way to bring families and resources together to ensure that children grow up healthy and ready to learn.

United Way needs your support to reach out to legislators and tell them how critical federal funding for early childhood programs is.

Click here to find out how you can help.