Together, we do what matters.

MORRISVILLE - Over 200 caring leaders helped Triangle United Way kick off the 2007 Fundraising Campaign today by participating in Happy Ending tours in Durham, Orange and Wake counties. The Community Impact Tours took campaign leaders to United Way member agencies across the Triangle to learn about the impact of specific funded programs supported by contributions to the Triangle United Way Community Care Fund.

“As Campaign Chairman, I have visited many of the 81 Triangle United Way member agencies and seen successful programs and met many of the people whose lives are changed,” said J.R. Shearin, Managing Partner of Deloitte & Touche. “My agency visits and tours have enlightened me to the true importance of the United Way campaign to our Triangle community. I’m asking everyone to do more this year to help us meet needs and change lives.”

The kickoff event began with breakfast and program at the RBC Center in Raleigh. As participants enjoyed breakfast, Emmy Award Winner Willa Brigham performed to illustrate the power of a caring community. Following the performance, Shearin announced the 2007 Community Care Fund goal of $11.2 million. The campaign is off to a promising starts thanks to 16 fundraising campaigns that ran early and raised $1.3 million. They include Deloitte & Touche: $189,433; Golden Corral: $249,000; and Triangle United Way Board and Staff: $175,000.

At the end of the breakfast, campaign leaders boarded buses and visited seven different member agencies to hear about innovative partnerships between other agencies and Triangle United Way. Tour participants in Wake County visited the Wake Enterprises, Inc., Urban Ministries’ Open Door Clinic and Interact. In Durham County, participants visited the John Avery Boys and Girls Club and Scarborough Nursery. Orange County tour participants traveled to Inter-Faith Council for Social Services and the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center.

Volunteers serving on the United Way 2007 Triangle Campaign team include: J.R. Shearin – Triangle Campaign Chairman (Deloitte & Touche LLP), David Strong – Triangle Cabinet Vice Chair, Ambassador Chair (Rex Healthcare), Jasmine Smith – African-American Leadership Initiative Co-Chair (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina), Queron Smith – African-American Leadership Initiative Co-Chair (Mechanics and Farmers Bank), Ralph Capps – Agency Chair (Boys and Girls Club of Wake County), Linda Matich Lang – CFC Chair (VA Medical Center-Durham), Graham Wilson – Marketing Chair (PRStreet, Inc.), John Stallings – New Business Chair (SunTrust Banks, Inc.), Christopher Woodfin – Orange County Chair (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina), Michael Ruffin – Public Administration Chair (Durham County Government), Mark Ascolese – Tocqueville Chair (Ascolese Enterprises, Inc.), Doug Vinsel – Wake County Chair (Duke Raleigh Hospital),  and Dr. Inderdeep Chatrath – Women’s Leadership Council Chair (Duke University).

The Triangle United Way annual campaign wraps on Nov. 11 in Downtown Raleigh at Nash Square with the 24th Annual Old Reliable Run event. Visit www.oldreliablerun.com for more information.

Triangle United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. Through partnerships, long-term planning and wise investment of donor gifts in critical needs, Triangle United Way supports the community’s health and human service safety net. Triangle United Way serves Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake counties by connecting callers to health and human service programs through United Way 2-1-1, a free, bilingual, 24-hour-a-day telephone information and referral service. To learn more about Triangle United Way visit our website: www.unitedwaytriangle.org..