Letter to the Editor
August 9, 2011
It is my privilege and pleasure to announce that the 2011 United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Campaign has begun! This year we have set a goal of raising $345,000 and your support of United Way allows us to continue our mission of addressing community needs. Reaching our 2011 goal will be a challenge, but with more people needing assistance, this is our chance to show our support to those in need.
United Way donations mean so much to our community. Our funded partners need support to carry out their missions and it can be done only through gifts from individuals and local businesses. Your friends, relatives and neighbors will benefit from your contribution.
Great things are happening in Eastern Upper Peninsula, and we need your support to continue the work that has already been started. United Way and our 20 agencies are coming up with innovative ways to address community issues. Charity Tracker is one such example. Our Volunteer Center will be implementing this service shortly, which will allow us to share information and coordinate our efforts. This will allow resources, such as your contribution and mine, to be used more efficiently and accomplish more for those in need.
Charity Tracker isn’t the only way United Way of the EUP is addressing community needs in a new way. In 2010/2011 United Way coordinated the Postal Food Drive which raised more than 8,000 lbs of food for local use, helped 63 families with our one-on-one help, facilitated over $2,600 in prescription savings, took on the fiduciary role for Project Fresh at the Farmer’s Markets (Tri-County), reduced our overhead by 5%, increased traffic in our Volunteer Center and more. For our full Annual Report please visit our website at www.UnitedWayEUP.org.
Dollars raised in this year’s campaign will be used to address issues that you felt were important when you filled out our Annual Needs Survey which just closed on July 31st. Over 200 EUP residents filled this out and we received great feedback. I am convinced that we are blessed to live in a community that gives back especially during times when the need is greatest.
It will take everyone’s help – you, your neighbors, your colleagues and your friends. When a volunteer calls you or when your pledge form comes in the mail, please respond right away. Don’t put it off. Don’t forget to encourage giving at work and in your neighborhood. We are all very fortunate to live in this wonderful and giving community, and with everyone helping, together we will be able to make this great community even better place.
There is a wealth of information about United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula at www.UnitedWayEUP.org. For more information or a brochure/pledge form, please contact me 906-632-3700x2.
Thank you!
Tracey Laitinen, Executive Director
United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula