United Way donations on track to beat goal

Despite speculation that donor fatigue would limit charitable giving, corporate executives and salaried employees at Madison companies really came through for the 2005 Dane County United Way campaign, organizers said.

Campaign organizers say they are on track to raise $14.75 million, exceeding their goal by more than half a million dollars.

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"We had an exceptional campaign given some of the local (disasters) like the Stoughton tornado as well as national and international events," said Kevin Hayden, campaign chairman and president of Dean Health System. "People opened their wallets and their hearts for charitable contributions for those that were affected. Locally we've exceeded our goal in spite of that. Clearly, United Way remains very much a priority organization in the minds of many of our residents in Dane County. We did great."

The United Way addresses social problems such as homelessness, the racial achievement gap in secondary education, domestic violence, care for the elderly and health care for the uninsured. Hayden said the organization's seven-point agenda for change evokes in donors a sincere belief that their contributions will yield tangible results in the community.

"In a way it's an investment in the overall quality of life in Dane County, which is one of the markers that every company is held up against as we try to recruit and retain employees," he said.

Erika Monroe-Kane, director of marketing at United Way, said employee and corporate participation is an important part of the campaign's overall mission.

"Obviously we need dollars to do the work that we're doing. But we really want to have our community aware and engaged in the issues that are going on around them," she said. "This is one of the ways where we know that we are being successful in reaching people ... and involving them in the community and involving them in the solution."

Several area companies were recognized by United Way for using interesting ways to generate employee participation.

Uniek, a Waunakee company that makes plastic picture frames, received a campaign innovation award. Events such as a Mexican taco feast and an executive dunk tank encouraged employees to donate while having fun and learning how the charity impacts the community.

Jim Blakeslee, vice president of human resources, said his company's fundraising efforts are ongoing.

"It wasn't just a flash in the pan. We involved people from every area of our company to build on the awareness we established years before." Blakeslee said.

Oscar Mayer joined forces with a labor union, UFCW Local 538, to raise $453,000, exceeding their goal by $13,000.

Campaign organizers held an online auction and sold parking spaces close to the entrance of the company's headquarters. "When you combine the employee campaign with our corporate contribution, our combined total is $674,878," said Sydney Lindner, associate director of corporate affairs.

"We believe this is money well-spent and an investment in what matters in our community."