Your Donation Has Power: United Way 2015-2016 Campaign Kicks-Off
United Way of Monroe County and more than 150 volunteers and community members enthusiastically launched the 2015-2016 “Your Donation Has Power” fundraising campaign during a luncheon Wednesday, September 16th. Attendees were inspired by keynote speaker Andy Mohr, CEO Andy Mohr Automotive Group.
Other speakers included:
- Heidi Schulz, United Way Campaign Co-Chair
- Kirk White, IU Campaign Manager, IU Assistant Vice President for Strategic Partnerships
- Barry Lessow, United Way Executive Director
Campaign leaders announced a fundraising goal of $1,300,000. Last year, thousands of individuals and more than 100 workplaces donated $1,285,869 to help United Way and their network of member agencies and community partners achieve life-changing results.
Funds raised during the campaign stay local and will support vital programs throughout the coming year. United Way works with member agencies and community partners to help people grow, succeed, thrive, and unite. Donations ensure people in our community have a good education, build their earnings, and can afford the essentials for their families. United Way focuses on helping people in the short-term while creating long-term solutions to the most pressing issues in our community.
Keynote speaker Andy Mohr, CEO of Andy Mohr Automotive Group shared why he believes so passionately in the work of United Way. “Donating to United Way is about making our community a better place to live and work for everyone here. It's not a hand out. It's a rope to help people climb up to self sustainability...where they can make another step on their own.”
Campaign Co-Chair Heidi Schulz spoke about the power of each and every donation. Schulz said, “Why am I a United Way volunteer? Because I know we are making a difference in this community... our community. Your giving is helping is helping us make that difference. To member agencies, knowing that United Way funding is coming every month is more than good news -- it is essential as they do their work. Sometimes it pays for food, or housing, or tutoring... and sometimes it needs to pay for gas or to keep the lights on. But it always, always pays for good results -- results that are important for us, for our kids, for our community."
“I like to think of United Way as the golden rule. You treat people the same way you'd want to be treated," remarked IU Campaign Manager, Kirk White. He went on, "It takes champions to do the kind of work we're going to do over the next few months. I'm hoping some of that winning spirit of being here on this campus will rub off on the fundraising campaign for United Way.”
United Way Executive Director Barry Lessow remarked, “Thanks to your support of United Way, more kids are going to kindergarten prepared to learn and more teens are graduating high school with a plan for their future. People have access to better training opportunities, they are able to access more types of medical services at no charge, and they are enrolling in health care plans for the first time. You really are helping people grow, succeed, thrive, and unite. We will continue to measure how we are doing to make sure we are investing your money wisely and achieving our goal of improving people's lives today and in the future.”
To see how donations are hard at work throughout the year, visit www.monroeunitedway.org/MyImpact.
During the event, Heidi Schulz, Campaign Co-Chair, United Way Board President, and long-time volunteer was honored with the Mary Alice Gray award for extraordinary volunteer service.
Campaign Leadership this year includes:
Campaign Co-Chairs:
- Heidi Schulz, Community Member
- Philippa Guthrie, Vice President & General Counsel, Indiana University Foundation
Vanguard Co-Chairs
- Jim Grandorf, Clinical Professor, Indiana University Kelley School of Business
- Mark Franklin, Region President, German American
Those who wish to join United Way in helping people grow, succeed, unite, and thrive, and can securely donate online via credit card. Donors can also download a pledge card and contribute in the form of cash, check, credit card, automatic bank withdrawal, stocks and securities, or can choose to be billed. Those participating in workplace campaigns can contribute via payroll deduction. Any company interested in having a workplace campaign or any group that would like a presentation about United Way or our member agencies is encouraged to call 812-334-8370.
Held at the Henke Hall of Champions in the IU Memorial Stadium, the luncheon was sponsored by Indiana University.
