United Way Press Release

United Way Annual Giving Campaign Total Announced; Giving Continues to Increase

Second highest campaign total in organization’s 91 year history is a 5.1% increase over last year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2011

Portland, OR – United Way of the Columbia-Willamette today announces that its 2010-2011 Community Giving Campaign has reached $21,128,361 which is a 5.1% increase over the previous year and the second largest campaign total in the organization’s 91 year history.

With the recession still affecting the economy, United Way credits its many individual, corporate, employee, retiree and foundation givers as helping to outpace last year’s annual giving campaign total of $20.1 million. This is the sixth year in a row that United Way has increased the level of the giving campaigns and puts the organization among the top 10% of United Ways in the nation.

“At a time when budgets are still being cut and available government money is shrinking, United Way is proud to say we’re still here to help fund vitally important programs in the community,” said Toni Carlo, VP of Resource Development for United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. “The additional funds donated by individuals, businesses and foundations will help improve education, income and health, the building blocks for a good quality of life.”

The funds from this year’s campaign will go to support collaborative projects that work to make lasting change in the community. And United Way’s innovative grant funding model ensures measurable results. For example, in the most recent 2009-2010 funding cycle, education programs supported 3,500 children under the age of 5 in their early development and learning and over 4,300 parents and teachers increased their ability to support children’s learning. Income programs helped over 12,500 increase their skills and connections to improve their financial stability. Health programs assisted over 15,000 adults and children to increase their skills and resources to improve their health and safety.

United Way programs that produce results like these will be supported by companies like Intel Corporation which set yet another giving record. The company’s giving total topped $6.8 million, significantly boosting the overall total for United Way with generous donations from employees and retirees and a matching gift from the Intel Foundation.

“Intel values that are embraced by our employees call for being an asset to our community,” said Jill Eiland, Corporate Affairs Manager at Intel Corporation. “That means we’re able to make a real impact in the community through our annual giving campaign. We’re honored to partner with United Way of the Columbia-Willamette to serve people in our community and we are inspired by the generous spirit our employees and retirees have demonstrated once more.”

Additionally this year, Wells Fargo has broken into the million dollar campaign category with their record-setting campaign raising $1.1 million. Other notable campaigns include Daimler Trucks North America LLC at $146,000, Hoffman Construction Company at $117,000, TriQuint Semiconductors’ at almost $100,000, NACCO Materials Handling Group’s campaign at nearly $70,000, Macy’s at $70,000, and Pendleton Woolen Mills at almost $55,000.

This year’s campaign increase in overall giving was made possible by the almost 1,000 companies and organizations who participated with individual donors, labor, and foundations. Over 2,000 volunteers donated their time and resources to help United Way improve education, income and health in the four county region of Clark, Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties.

At United Way’s Celebration of Caring event last night, the organization recognized the exceptional leadership of the Annual Giving Campaign Co-Chairs, Bob Van Brocklin, Managing Partner and CEO of Stoel Rives LLP and Gregg Kantor, President and CEO of NW Natural. The event marked the transition of the leadership roles between the two men, for the upcoming 2011 Annual Giving Campaign Gregg Kantor will now be Chair and Bob Van Brocklin co-Chair.

Of the companies running an employee giving campaign this year, three stand out as this year’s awardees of the Campaign Chair’s Award for Excellence: Benson Industries LLC, Bi-Mart and Nordstrom. Of note in Clark County, the Vancouver School District was awarded the Best of Trade award for Education. At United Way’s annual Celebration of Caring event last night, these and many other outstanding community partners were honored with awards including the following:

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United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is working to advance the common good in the four-county Portland/Vancouver area by focusing on the basics we all need for success: education, income, and health. We all win when children succeed in school, families are financially stable and independent, and people have good health. Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. By working together we can create opportunities for a better life and create a stronger community. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED. Visit www.unitedway-pdx.org.

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