Boyne Citizen

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United Way Campaign Kicks Off


Attendees at the Char-Em United Way Campaign Kickoff Lunch were asked to find their inner campaign heroes. United Way kicked off its 2010-2011 Campaign with a superhero-themed lunch for its volunteer leaders.

“We’re excited to announce our campaign goal of $350,000, an 8 percent increase from last year,” said Board President Bob Carlile. “This campaign amount will raise more money than Char-Em United Way ever has.”

The funds raised from the campaign will support effective health and human service programs throughout Charlevoix and Emmet Counties.

Carlile emphasized that once again The Frey Foundation has offered Char-Em United Way a challenge grant of $20,000 when the campaign goal is achieved.

“The worse the economy gets, the greater the demand there is for social services,” Carlile said. “But people can be sure of the care and fairness their pledges and donations are placed back in our community through Char-Em United Way.”

Carlin Smith, Executive Director of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce and Erin Bemis, Executive Director of the Charlevoix Chamber of Commerce, have been selected as this year’s Campaign Co-Chairs.

The two told the audience they felt honored in having the position and were ready to get the campaign underway.

“I believe strongly in Char-Em United Way,” Bemis said. “Community is extremely important and together we can make the best of it all by donating our time, pledges and gifts to Char-Em United Way.”

Smith stressed involving small businesses throughout Charlevoix and Emmet counties in this year’s campaign.

“We are going to be the voice for small businesses in workplace campaigns,” Smith said. “Petoskey Chamber of Commerce is a small office, but we manage every year to have a campaign, so why can’t other small businesses have more workplace campaigns? Our goal is to involve more small businesses this year than in the past.”

Smith and Bemis said they have already begun brainstorming ideas for the upcoming campaign.

Char-Em United Way Executive Director Martha Lancaster previewed the new campaign video and newspaper ads for those in attendance. The video – which features scenes at several United Way Partner Agencies -- is posted on the Char-Em United Way Facebook page and You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAW-KrJW8M) and will soon be on its website (www.charemunitedway.org).

“This higher campaign goal will be more challenging and getting people to donate will be harder than ever with the economy,” Lancaster said. “But the needs for programs and services Char-Em United Way supports are greater than ever. We are confident that we will be able to reach our goal through renewal support, as well as by recruiting new workplace campaigns and individual donors.”

Lancaster noted that when people learn more about local needs and how United Way is meeting the needs of our neighbors, they are very generous. The campaign is already at 5 percent of its goal.

The Char-Em United Way campaign activities begin in early September with presentations and mailings to local businesses and mailings to families and individuals in Charlevoix and Emmet County. Over ninety workplaces – public and private; large and small; local and national – conduct workplace campaigns for Char-Em United Way every year. Many employers offer their staff the option of payroll deductions, and donors can also contribute by credit card or online.

For more information, contact United Way at 231-487-1006 or info@charemunitedway.org

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