United Way Announces
Campaign Award Winners:
Celebration highlights those helped and
those who LIVE UNITED by giving

March 12 , 2008

"United Way recognizes the Employees Community Fund of Boeing
Puget Sound as they pass the $500,000,000 mark for giving since their
inception in 1951. Half a billion dollars to support nonprofits in
Puget Sound is an incredible measure of how Boeing employees care about the community," John Dickson, CEO of Frontier Bank and 2007 United Way Campaign Chair.

Boeing and ECF

From left: Boeing employees: Russ Wise, Rich White,
Deborah McSwain, ECF Board of Trustees president Grace Holland,
ECF Trustee John Reis, Jim Trimble, ECF Trustee Geri Marquardt,
Chris Pastega, Jose Font,Caren Skube and Kim Pastega.

United Way on Wednesday, March 12 recognized donors and
employers who ran outstanding fundraising campaigns to benefit
kids and families in Snohomish County through United Way’s
Local Community Fund.

United Way’s Community Caring Celebration was held at the
Edward D. Hansen Conference Center, Everett Events Center, to
honor the people and employers who supported the annual
fundraising effort. The LIVE UNITED theme—United Way’s new
national and local theme -emphasizes giving, advocating and
volunteering as ways people can impact their communities and get engaged with United Way.

“I said when we started that this is a community that steps up when there’s a need. It’s my great privilege to say thank you to all those who stepped up in tremendous ways to help the thousands of people they touch everyday when they give to United Way’s Local Community Fund,” said 2007 Campaign Chair John Dickson, CEO of Frontier Bank. “We had great participation, with 25 new campaigns at companies this year, 586 new Leaders In Giving who gave over $500, and 13 new Tocqueville Society donors who give personal gifts of $10,000 or more. That’s an incredible response, but we’re not done yet. We have 18 companies running campaigns this spring and the push is still on.”

Although donors to United Way of Snohomish County may direct their giving to any eligible nonprofit, United Way has begun emphasizing the portion of total giving directed to its Local Community Fund, which supports a wide variety of health and human services in Snohomish County. Neither the final campaign total nor the total for the Local Community Fund will be known until May.

“We recognize that donors have a choice and applaud all charitable contributions, which is why United Way offers donors several convenient ways to give. But our real mission is creating better lives for kids, families and communities in Snohomish County. That’s why the Local Community Fund is so critical—it’s the support people rely on every day here in our own backyard,” Dickson said.

Currently, the Local Community Fund supports $3.3 million in annual grants to 93 local nonprofit programs and initiatives in Early Learning, Financial Stability, the Volunteer Center and 211.

Rodland Toyota/Scion and Community Health Center of Snohomish County were recognized by United Way President & CEO Carl Zapora with the top award of the evening, the President’s Award. This award honors the two most outstanding campaigns, one at a for-profit company and one a nonprofit. Rodland Toyota/Scion raised $67,000—a 33% increase over last year with 84% of the total directed to the Local Community Fund. Community Health Center employees increased their giving by 24%, with 76% of donations given to the Local Community Fund.

The Chair Award recognizes leadership by top management. Winners were Joyce Eleanor, Executive Director of Community Transit and Kay Fantin of Nordstrom-Alderwood. The Employee Campaign Manager of the Year Award recognizes the team leaders who do the “hands on” work of running campaigns in their organizations. Winners were Cecilia Johnson and Judy Austin of Cascade Bank and Mayre Ren of Housing Hope.

A special award given this year was the You Rock! Award, presented to the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound. This special award recognizes the single largest gift to United Way of Snohomish County’s campaign—$2.1 million this year—marks the ECF’s milestone of surpassing $500,000,000 in giving throughout the Puget Sound since their inception in 1951.

Buzz Rodland, owner and president of Rodland Toyota/Scion, will serve as 2008 Campaign Chairman.

See a list of our 2007 Community Caring Campaign award winners.

March 12 , 2008

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