August 2005

• Welcome
• Pacesetters: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network
• United Way Program Update: 2-1-1 Closer To Reality
• Featured Campaign: Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
• Campaign News: Challenge grant doubles impact in community
• Campaign Tips: 11 techniques for a successful campaign
• Campaign Tools: Tool chest is open
• Put the "Fun" in Fundraising
• We want to hear from you!
• Upcoming Campaign Events
• Suggestion Box
• Keep Your Contact Information Updated

Welcome
Welcome to C@mpaigner Connection, the new monthly publication for United Way for Southeastern Michigan's company campaign coordinators - the dedicated men and women who run employee workplace campaigns.

This issue is packed with important information, valuable tips and key dates you will find useful in coordinating a successful campaign. You will also find stories about United Way initiatives at work, which illustrate the daily impact the dollars you help raise have on metro Detroit communities.

Along the campaign trail you may encounter people who know United Way only as an organization that raises money and funds agencies. Of course as a campaign coordinator, you know that United Way is dedicated to community impact. Our mission is to mobilize the caring power of Detroit and southeast Michigan to improve communities and individual lives in measurable and lasting ways.

Each dollar generated through the Torch Drive is an investment in our community impact work, which makes each campaign supporters an investor in that effort. Those dollars are producing impressive returns each day, through a range of United Way initiatives that empower neighborhoods, nurture youth, strengthen families and promote wellness across the region.

For more on United Way for Southeastern Michigan's impact initiatives click here. Welcome to Campaigner Connection, the new monthly publication for United Way for Southeastern Michigan's company campaign coordinators - the dedicated men and women who run employee workplace campaigns.

This issue is packed with important information, valuable tips and key dates you will find useful in coordinating a successful campaign. You will also find stories about United Way initiatives at work, which illustrate the impact of the dollars you help raise on metro Detroit communities each day. Additionally, each edition of Campaigner Connection, will offer you a glimpse at what employees from other area companies are doing to support their communities through the United Way Torch Drive.

For more on United Way for Southeastern Michigan's impact initiatives click here.

Pacesetters
Pacesetter companies are those that run their campaign early and set a more aggressive goal (generally 10% above the previous year). Their purpose is to give the Torch Drive Campaign a strong kick-start and to give United Way for Southeastern Michigan results to report on the day of Kickoff.

We would like to thank the following companies for agreeing to run as a Pacesetter:

For the first time this year, UWSEM has also asked companies to run an Executive Pacesetter Campaign. Executive Pacesetter companies are those that solicit their executives early, in an effort to increase Leadership Giving, specifically Tocqueville gifts ($10,000 or more per year). These early executive pledges are used to stimulate their own company's overall employee campaign, as well as provide additional early results prior to Kickoff.

We would like to thank the following companies for agreeing to run as an Executive Pacesetter:

Featured Pacesetter: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network

The combined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Blue Care Network (BCN) Pacesetter Campaign kicked off on August 1st with the companies rallying employees across the state in an effort to raise $658,000.

To help kick off the Pacesetter Campaign, a rally for more than 100 volunteers who oversee the BCBSM and BCN United Way campaign was held. The volunteers are responsible for distributing campaign materials, hanging posters, and sharing information about the Torch Drive and United Way's daily work to make a difference in metro Detroit communities.

"This is an exciting time of year for our company, because it's a great opportunity for the employees to work together on a common cause. Many volunteers come back year-after-year," says Michelle McCray, lead coordinator for the BCBSM and BCN campaign.

United Way Program Update
2-1-1 Closer To Reality
Thanks to a groundswell of community support, United Way for Southeastern Michigan is on the verge of launching its highly anticipated information and referral service (I&R), 2-1-1.

United Way 2-1-1 officially rolls out in December, and with it comes 24-hour access - 365 days a year -- to needed health and human services for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. The telephone dialing service is the next generation enhancement of Tel-Help, the popular I&R resource that has served southeastern Michigan for 60 years.

More than 34,000 callers reached out to Tel-Help in 2004. By comparison, United Way 2-1-1 will serve an estimated 140,000 callers annually, with the ability to plug metro Detroiters into a network of more than 5,000 service providers and programs across the region.

How can 2-1-1 handle so much more volume? The obvious answer is because 2-1-1 operates 24/7. But beyond that, 2-1-1 serves to impact lives and change communities by identifying root causes and patching callers into resources that strengthen families, nurture children, empower communities and promote health and wellness. There is no one service around that offers this type of impact.

United Way 2-1-1 I&R specialists are trained to assess caller needs. For example, when callers dial 2-1-1 for help finding a homeless shelter, I&R specialists use a few simple questions to uncover the reason shelter is needed. If the caller has lost a job, then the specialist may suggest job preparedness options. If the job was lost because of substance abuse, the specialist can refer that caller to treatment options. This approach allows United Way to truly make a difference in the lives of 2-1-1 callers.

The initiative received a substantial boost in July when The Kresge Foundation awarded a $1.7 million match grant to United Way 2-1-1. The grant requires United Way to raise an additional $2.5 million over the next three years. More importantly, Kresge's 2-1-1 investment brings the total raised to more than $5.3 million for startup and operational costs through 2008, including funds committed by the Comerica Charitable Foundation, DTE Energy Foundation, McGregor Fund and Ralph L. & Winifred E. Polk Foundation.

United Way 2-1-1 partners include Common Ground Sanctuary, the Detroit Public Library, the Macomb County Crisis Center, Neighborhood Service Organization and The Information Center.

Those funds provide bilingual services, referrals to child care and adult day care, help in starting a block club, family counseling and crisis intervention, mentoring and volunteer opportunities. Additionally, 2-1-1 can serve as a portal for public health and emergency information in times of crisis.

Featured Campaign
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Coordinator committed to the cause
Bobbie Kanarek, legal secretary at the law firm of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, is the campaign coordinator for her company's annual United Way campaign, a duty she has shared for the past 17 years with attorney Gerald S. Cook.

Over the years, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn has won numerous United Way awards. In her role, Bobbie is responsible for planning company campaign activities, distributing materials and soliciting coworkers.

"I enjoy the challenge of meeting our goal and encouraging new people to understand the importance of United Way," says Bobbie.

Bobbie became a true believer in United Way, when she lost sight in her right eye as a result of her multiple sclerosis. She was linked to a medical transportation service from a United Way partner agency through the Tel-Help dialing resource. The carrier transports Bobbie around town to doctors' offices and other venues.

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn has 559 employees at four sites -- Bloomfield Hills, Bingham Farms, Detroit and Lansing. Bobbie and Jerry, known as the "dynamic duo" coordinate campaigns at the three metro Detroit offices.

Campaign News
Challenge grants doubles impact of your giving
Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG -- huge supporters of United Way - are supplementing donations to the 2005 Torch Drive with a matching challenge grant applied to all new company and Tocqueville gifts. Ford and DaimlerChrysler will match new company contributions and individual Tocqueville gifts ($10,000 or more) up to $400,000. If your company is running a United Way campaign for the first time in years, or if your company has an individual donor whose Tocqueville gift is eligible for a match, please contact our leadership department, 313.226-9256. Take advantage of this matching gift program and double your impact on your community!

Fast-Track program makes giving easier.
United Way's Leadership Giving program recognizes individuals who demonstrate their philanthropic commitment to the community by contributing $1,000 or more to the annual campaign. The Leadership Giving program consists of three giving categories: the Tocqueville Society, Vanguard and the Signature Club. Additionally, there are two membership programs -- the Women's Initiative and the Virgil H. Carr Society.

Fast-Track is an accelerated element of Leadership Giving, allowing donors to receive higher recognition and other benefits of Leadership program membership immediately, when they commit to contributing at the full level by the third campaign. Any donor who was already a member of the two-year fast track program may move up in their next commitment amount, but not down.

For more information about Fast-Track, contact Beth Noble at 313.226-9405, or e-mail beth.noble@uwsem.org.

Campaign Tips
11 techniques for a successful campaign
Coordinating a successful company campaign requires proper planning. Here are 11 foolproof techniques to help increase your campaign results.

1. Appoint a campaign chairperson.
2. Utilize local United Way staff resources.
3. Establish a steering committee, inclusive of both management and labor (if applicable).
4. Review past campaigns, set goals and track results.
5. Recruit department coordinators and labor representatives.
6. Conduct ongoing executive briefings.
7. Encourage Leadership Giving. (Consider targeting affinity groups.)
8. Increase your number of campaign volunteers.
9. Educate yourself and committee, so you can conduct an effective educational campaign.
10. Promote the value of a corporate gift match program as an incentive to employee giving.
11. Organize volunteer activities with recruitment and recognition efforts built in.
    

Campaign Tools
The Tool Chest is Open
Having the right tools to run your campaign is essential. United Way has a veritable tool chest of resources available to campaign coordinators, a sampling of which follows.

• Campaign videos - (DVD or VHS)
• Posters (General and Labor)
• Brochures (General, Leadership Giving & Women's Initiative)
• Goal Thermometers
• Form Letters (Kick-off, CEO Letter, and Thank You)
• eWay On-line pledging
• Promotional Items (pins, coffee mugs, balloons and more)
• Agency Speakers
• Torchlighters (testimonial from benefactor of a United Way partner program)
• Logos and Graphics
• Captain Carin' (United Way's own mascot)

To order materials or obtain additional information, call 313.226.9238.

Put the "Fun" in Fundraising
Adding a little pizzazz to your campaign can make a big difference in the final tally, so dare to be creative! Here are some proven campaign ideas for you to consider:

• Kickoff barbecue, pancake breakfast, ice cream social or chili cook-off
• Company lunch and bake sales
• Campaign themes (Day at the Beach, Fifties Fun, Old West, Olympics)
• Employee talent or game show
• E-mail trivia contest
• Employees' children poster contest
• Sport tournaments: golf, softball, volleyball, bowling...
• Executive dunk tank
• Karaoke luncheon
• Jail and bond activity
• Fun races: tricycle, remote control car and more
• Auctions or drawings for items donated by management or employees
• Halloween costume contest, jeans days, casual day
• Thanksgiving theme luncheons
• Baby picture guessing game
• Use incentives to encourage attendance at meetings, increase campaign participation and encourage speedy return of pledge forms. Effective incentives include tickets to movies, sporting or cultural events, gift certificates, door prizes at company meetings, department parties and VIP parking spaces.

We want to hear from you
Employee Campaign Coordinators Survey
United Way for Southeastern Michigan is working to make sure campaign coordinators are equipped the tools they need to be effective. Please take a moment to complete our brief online survey.

Upcoming campaign events

Click here for a full listing of all upcoming Campaign Events.

Suggestion Box
In an effort to provide employee campaign coordinators with the information and resources needed to be successful, Campaigner Connection appreciates feedback, suggestions and tips for story ideas from readers. We would like to hear from you!

Keep your contact information updated
We want to make sure this publication gets into the right hands each month by updating contact information as needed. Please inform us of any changes you would like us to know about by updating the form below:

You can also e-mail your changes or additions to Ada Kelly at United Way, ada.kelly@uwsem.org, or call 313.226.9233.