This year’s campaign chairs, Gary and Barbara Rodkin, hosted the event. Gary is CEO of ConAgra Foods, Inc. They announced the goal for the 2010 drive: $21.5 million, to be raised among individuals, companies and other organizations over the next two months. Rik Bonness also spoke; his two sons have grown up with juvenile diabetes, and programs that helped them cope with the disease are among those supported by United Way donor dollars.

The Slim Jim Blues Ensemble, a band made up of ConAgra employees, played for an estimated crowd of 1,000 people. WOWT's Brian Mastre was the emcee.

(View pictures of this event, with a click!):

The money raised in the annual campaign supports more than 145 health and human service programs -- a strong network of caring that serves the people of Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties. The safety net of services and local initiatives help people enhance their education, stabilize their finances and improve their health… through tutoring and school readiness for toddlers, financial management classes for parents, and support for those living with chronic medical conditions. These and other funded programs help our neighbors make measurable change in their lives; when they are healthy and independent, our entire community benefits.

VOLUNTEER PROJECTS UNDERWAY ON SEPTEMBER 2ND

Thursday is also "Day of Caring" – an annual day of community service that United Way’s Volunteer Resource Center hosts. A number of local companies are giving employees time away from work to volunteer for local organizations.  They include:

Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly Assisting Seniors' 
HDR employees are scraping and repainting garages for seniors and planting flowers

Uta Halee Girls Village
Campus beautification projects are being done by employees of Central States Health & Life Co

MICAH House Shelter
Black Hills Energy Corp. employees help with landscaping and tree care on the grounds

Project Linus
BlueCross Blue Shield of NE employees will make fleece comfort blankets for children who suffer from illness or trauma

Catholic Charities-Council Bluffs (includes Phoenix House)
Black Hills Energey employees are doing "fall cleaning" at the shelter, along with some yard work... and collecting donated cell phones for use by abuse victims who have left a violent household.

United Way of the Midlands, its donors and volunteers advance the common good of the Omaha metropolitan area by providing our neighbors life-changing opportunities in education, financial stability and health. UWM celebrates 87 years of service in 2010.

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