Area United Way Campaign Falls Just Short of Goal
By Deborah Hirsch
Courier Post Staff
The United Way of Camden County didn’t reach its fundraising goal of 5.1 million, but the preliminary $4.7 million tally is still slightly higher than last year, the non-profit organization said Thursday.
As a finale to United Way’s annual workplace campaign board members and volunteers held a drawing for a 2009 Ford Edge at a breakfast Thursday morning. Employees who pledged at least $5 a week over the course of the year were entered into the drawing. Those who donated $7 or more were entered twice.
Holman Enterprises which owns a fleet management company, car parts dealership, and 20 car dealerships in South Jersey and South Florida, donated the vehicle to encourage people to step up their donations and add a little fun to the campaign, said CEO Mindy Holman. “We’re really big believers in the United Way and a part of our corporate mission statement is to give back to the communities where we live and work,” said Holman, who also serves on the local United Way board. Although this was the 12th year Holman Enterprises donated a car as a raffle prize for United Way donors. It was the first time one of its own employees won the prize. Richard Neylan, a salesman for Automotive Resources International in Mount Laurel was in a meeting when Holman called to tell hi that his name was drawn from the 5,912 entries.
“You don’t usually get a call from the chairman of the board of your company,” said Neylan, 59. “Natural instinct is to say, “Oh my goodness, what did I do wrong?” Neylan, of Hockessin, Del., said this was the first time he’s ever won anything of significance even though he’s been donating to United Way for nearly 20 years. As a “leadership giver”, he gave $1,000 or more over the course of the year. “You never win anything big, so you fill out the little thing and forget about it,” Neylan said. This year, he said, he and his wife decided that they would give a little bit more because they were still doing OK and a lot of other people weren’t so fortunate. “So maybe it’s good karma,” he joked.
Neylan will get to pick up his new car, in the color of his choice, in January. Erin Levengood, Vice President of Public Affairs for United Way of Camden County, said her organization is still counting up the donations but expects to have about $4.7 million between the employee donations and special event fundraisers. That’s up about $100,000 from last year’s $4.6 million. Organizers had hoped to raise $5.1 million or $5000,000 more than last year, when they kicked off the campaign this fall. But that goal was set before the economic climate worsened, Levengood said. Charitable donations have declined nationwide, she said.
“We were still bale to grow so we can’t be disappointed with that,” she said. “People have really risen to the occasion. We’re really pleased that our donors dug deep and showed us incredible generosity.” Holman and its employees were the largest donor, raising upward of $770,000, Levengood said. Other major donors included: The Campbell Soup Company, raising $460,000, up $30,000 from last year; PATCO with $118,500, up$25,000; and L-3 Communications Systems East with $310,000 up $7,000.
In tough economic times, donations are badly needed
By Mike Moynihan for the Courier-Post
How will our nation’s economic climate affect the charitable landscape in Camden County? It’s a good question we’ve been considering for some months how. At United Way of Camden County, we raise funds primarily through workplace and campaigns and work with volunteers to invest those funds. It is our goal to create long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying causes of problems. Since the Great Depression days of the 1930’s, donors have given generously to United Way. This year is no different. Our annual fundraising campaign is on tract to deliver 3 percent growth.
But there is one thing different about our business this year: the need of those in need. The programs we fund are bursting at the seams. More people are facing hunger, homelessness and health crisis than ever before. Therefore, we are urging our key stakeholders–non-profit agencies, donors, volunteers and corporate partners–to sharpen the focus and invest their resources in the most pressing problems facing our county.
This means more collaboration among the nonprofit sector. There are more than 1,000 nonprofit agencies in our region and competition for every dollar is fierce. If we can form partnerships to better serve those in need, it must be done. Efforts should be combined, not duplicated.
For donors and volunteers, this sharpened focus means doing more homework. Are the causes you are giving to generation outcomes you would like to see? There might be other programs to consider that are conducting business more effectively. Knowledge and planning makes a wise charitable investment.
Corporations must continue to strengthen social responsibility initiatives and give back to the communities that support their success. Luckily, we are seeing examples of just that in our own corporate partners. Our fundraising efforts at the Holman Family of businesses and Campbell Soup Company continue to grow and produce a $1.5 million annually. Employees at PATCO delivered and additional $25,000 this year for a total of $118,500. L-3 Communications Systems East delivered $310,000, highlighted by $7,000 increase in employee giving.
Hard economic times might change the bottom line of business, but they do not change the commitment these companies (and many more) collectively make to our region.
Speaking of regional collaboration, there are 500 winter coats in our board room right now. They were colleted at local ShopRite supermarkets and organized by United Way staff and students from the Work Group, a non-profit agency that helps young people at risk become responsible community members. As a part of their community service, the Work Group students will distribute the coats in local neighborhoods. Working together with our partners, we have ensured that 500 people will stay warm this winter.
United Ways of the Delaware Valley are also partnering with Acme Markets to deliver hot and delicious holiday meals to regional senior centers. This is another example of how giving resources, advocating for others and volunteering time advances the common good in our region.
United Way does not simply fundraise and make grants, we want to make change, and we can not do that alone.
Our country is facing some trying times, and we all feel the effects. But instead of raising less, we feel that we need to raise the bar, and work together to create opportunities for a better life for all.
Camco United Way sets fundraising goal of $5.1 M
By Kristy Davis
Courier Post Staff
Kicking off this year’s campaign for the United Way of Camden County were more that 10,000 rubber ducks finding their way down the Cooper River.
The Rubber Ducky Derby was part of the festivities to kick off the campaign with a 2008 goal of $5.1 million to help fund the United Way’s affiliated programs. The event was held at Maria Barnaby Greenwald Memorial Park.
“We set a very aggressive goal,” said Michael Moynihan, president of the United Way of Camden County. “Last tear we raised just shy of $4.6 million from the annual workplace campaign and our goal this year is to increase that amount by $500,000. We’ve gotten some very strong, early commitments from some of our largest corporate supporters that are going to run very spirited campaigns.”
Brian Propp, a former Philadelphia Flyer was selected as this year’s United Way volunteer campaign chairman
“I’ve always loved what the United Way has done,” Propp said. “I’ve been very fortunate, but have heard stories and know about other charitable organizations the United Way helps out/. I want to give back, be a role model and support charities in need.”
Propp and Moynihan have been joining volunteers to visit area businesses and organizations to seek support for the multitude of programs supported by the United Way.
One of the programs that benefits from United Way funding is the New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences in Camden’s Adventure Aquarium.
Damon Gibbs grew up in a low-income household in Camden with his mother and two brothers. At the age of 16, Gibbs was hired by the academy.
“It was absolutely not what I expected,” Gibbs now 29 said. “ I was one of the shy, quiet kids. I knew it had to do with science, but I had no idea I was going to be talking in front of people.”
The once “shy kid” worked at the academy through the Community and Urban Science Enrichment program, teaching younger children about science and the exhibits at the aquarium, for more that 10 years. Gibbs is now married with and adopted 9 year- old daughter and a baby girl born in July. He now lives in Connecticut where he is the youth program manager for the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford.
“It’s been huge, he said. “The academy has given me those experiences I didn’t think as a young man from Camden could have. It helped me realize just because I lived there I didn’t have to be apart of the stigma placed on Camden.”
Gibbs is thankful for the United Way’s funding of the program that set the stage for his life and career.
“If it weren’t for them funding programs like that, (the academy) wouldn’t have the opportunity to continue to give youth from Camden the same experience and opportunity I got. The program has a 100 percent high school graduation rate in a city that has a drop out rate of over 50 percent.”
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the United Way,” said Angela Wegner, executive vice president and chief operation officer at the academy.
The CAUSE program includes 30 to 35 youths a year and there are three full-time staff members.
Shaun Ragin, 19 of Camden and Janay Martin 19, of Pennsauken, were in the CAUSE program and are now sophomores at Camden County College and work at the academy assisting with applications to the programs and education demonstrations.
“I used to be shy, Martin said as she held a 3-foot-long allegation names Bayou. “My favorite part is the shark stuff. I get to teach information to the new kids coming in.”
Propp and Moynihan said they don’t believe the economic conditions will affect their fundraising efforts.
“We have a very good group of companies we’ve worked with over the past number of years,” Propp said. “We have more of a present in front of those companies and they know where the money will go and the good that it does,. Though they know the economy is tougher they know here will be more people in need.”
Leading partners in the campaign include the Holman Family of Companies, Campbell Soup Company, L-3 Communications, DRPA/PATCO, American Water and TD Bank North.
“One of the added incentives for Holman is if any employee gives $5 dollars a week, their name will go into a drawing for a new car,” Propp said. “If they give $7 a week, they get two chances to win a car. It has really sparked a lot of interest. Other companies have added benefits to donations. One restaurant is offering a $20 gift certificate.”
All in all, Moynihan remains optimistic.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed, but we felt that we really needed to step up and set an aggressive goal,” he said. “Even if we don’t make $500,000 increase we’ll probably raise more than a conservative benchmark. It’s amazing that folks, even in tough economic times, have railed around helping others.”
