Together, we do what matters.

Campaign on target to reach $11.2 million goal

MORRISVILLE - J.R. Shearin, Chairman of the 2007 Triangle United Way fundraising drive and Managing Partner at Deloitte, today announced that $5.1 million has been pledged by area companies and employee groups; approximately $2.4 million is targeted to the Community Care Fund and local programs to meet urgent human service needs in Durham, Orange and Wake counties.

“The money raised through this campaign means so much to the welfare of so many in our community,” said Shearin. “If not for the thousands of generous citizens giving to United Way, events like the Project Homeless Connect held last week in Durham, Orange and Wake counties would not have happened. The success of that program and its ability to connect hundreds of homeless individuals in our community to the services they needed was one example of your United Way gift in action.”

Under the leadership of New Business Chair John Stallings, president of the Central Carolina Region of SunTrust, 27 businesses are running first time United Way fundraising drives with outstanding results to date: PPD employees raised $25,000; Embrex raised $33,000 through employee giving and a corporate match; and Meadwestvaco raised $20,000 through employee and corporate giving.

Approximately 50,000 employees across the region participate in the Triangle United Way fundraising drive. Following are highlights of employee fund raising drives conducted since the campaign began on September 14:

• RH Donnelly employees have contributed $62,969 including $51,539 to support the Community Care Fund.
• Deloitte employees contributed a total of $164,443; a 17 percent increase over monies contributed in their 2006 campaign.
• Triangle United Way Board and Staff raised $175,000.
• Redwoods Group instituted a double corporate match to support the Community Care Fund.
• Novelist employees generously contributed $17,200, 50 percent more than in their 2006 campaign.
• Golden Corral raised $249,000; an 8 percent increase over monies contributed in their 2006 campaign.
• TrustAtlantic Bank’s campaign is still running and employees have maximized the power of their United Way donations and contributed 85 percent of their total to date to the Community Care Fund
• Embarq employees exceeded their goal and raised $57,985.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina held yet another successful campaign and raised $887,419; 11 percent more than their 2006 campaign and surpassing their 2007 campaign goal.
• Duke Raleigh Hospital led by Wake County United Way Chair Doug Vinsel and Campaign Leader Patricia Kramer had an outstanding campaign that raised $ 43,109; 91percent more than their 2006 campaign.
• BE & K Engineering armed with a corporate gift, 17 leadership donors and a 19 percent increase in employee giving raised $37,884.
• SCM Metal conducted special events for the first time and raised $6,658 that was combined with a $5,000 corporate gift to raise $11,658
• John Avery Boys and Girls Club was one of many member agencies running campaigns and had a 77 percent increase.

The fundraising drive ends on Nov. 11 with the 24th Annual Old Reliable Run in Downtown Raleigh. Proceeds from the 10k and 5k run and walk benefit the Triangle United Way Community Care Fund campaign to improve lives in partnership with 177 local human service programs in Durham, Orange and Wake counties. Visit www.unitedwaytriangle.org to make a contribution to the United Way fundraising drive or to signup for the Old Reliable Run.

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..