| United Way Kicks Off the 2011 Campaign; $1.4 Million Raised Already Toward $21.7 Million Goal | | Print | |
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Omaha, Nebraska – It’s a fast two months, and an ambitious target - United Way’s 2011 Campaign team, led by Chairs Jim and Diny Landen, set the goal: raise $21,700,000 to strengthen the network of health and human services that covers Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties. Right after they announced the goal at the kickoff event today, they reported some good news: two dozen local companies have already contributed more than $1.4 million dollars. That amount represents a 17% increase over these same companies’ United Way gifts in 2010. (A list of the generous early corporate donors is attached.) The Landens introduced a 24-year old Marine Corps veteran who earned a Purple Heart in the Iraq War. He calls the United Way-funded “At Ease” program “‘a light at the end of a long tunnel,” as he’s struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. The program, operated by Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, has helped him adjust to life back here at home in the Omaha metro area. His peer-to-peer mentor joined him at the kickoff event; she is a veteran also. Chair of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council, Mary Lopez, briefed the audience on the group’s plans to support local human services, with a focus on education. The audience also got a first-hand report from students at Westside High School who took part in the first “Youth Day of Caring” on Saturday at Girls Inc, a United Way partner. 130 teenagers helped the nonprofit with everything from cleaning, painting, organizing donated items and picking up trash. Employees from 15 companies are fanning out across the community today for their own “Day of Caring.” A list of projects can be viewed at www.uwmidlands.org, and pictures from the day will be posted on United Way’s Facebook and Flickr pages soon. 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 88 years of service in 2011. People in the metropolitan area received services through United Way Community Care Fund programs 584,668 times in 2010.
EARLY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 2011 UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN: |
