Workplace campaigns exceed United Way expectations

 

    OUTSTANDING UNITED WAY AGENCY recognition went this year to Helping Hands for Children and Families for its creation of a new program, Helping Neighbors — designed to help people in desperate need of assistance but with no place to turn. Pictured for the May 5 award presentation, from left: United Way of Aroostook President Donald Zillman; Andy Michalka, director of Helping Hands; and Campaign Chair Carolyn Dorsey-Durepo.

    PRESQUE ISLE — Bankers, businesspeople, health care providers, academicians, potato processors, paper manufacturers and more were on hand for the United Way of Aroostook’s annual meeting, held May 5 at the Northeastland Hotel.
    A brief business meeting at the beginning of the event included the introduction of new UWA officers: President Donald Zillman, Vice President Cheri Doak, Larry LaPlante as treasurer and Claudia Stevens as secretary. Outgoing President Bonnie Foster took a moment to reflect on her time in office.
    “Looking back on my two years as president, I can’t help but notice the number of charitable donations, despite economic conditions,” said Foster, noting that while many employees were impacted by that state of the economy, the organization saw an outpouring of support from those able to give during this difficult time.
    “‘When times get tough, the tough get going’ was our motto. Despite cutbacks, many continued to give,” said Foster. “The charitable people of the County exceeded (our) expectations. We not only exceeded our goal of $500,000, we exceeded it.”
    Funds raised totaled $517,000 — an impressive figure, given the high unemployment rates and financial difficulties many have faced over the past couple years.
    Foster recognized Claudia Stevens’ 10 years as director of the UWA and her dedication to the agency. She also expressed appreciation for the continued support of the agencies represented at the meeting.
    “I want to thank all agencies present. Through your hard work, the people of the County have received the education and financial help they deserve,” said Foster.
    Zillman also spoke, noting the impressive job Foster had done as president.
    “Bonnie has set a high standard for leadership of this organization,” said Zillman.
    He said, growing up, the United Way was a single entity that accepted donations for multiple organizations. As time goes by, he said he sees the United Way evolving to meet ever-changing needs.
    “As we look at proposals brought to us, the UWA is becoming a very active and diverse organization,” said Zillman. “All the energy you bring to this makes it what it is.”
    Carolyn Doresy-Durepo, 2009 campaign chair, said setting a campaign goal was “a difficult task.”
    “We don’t want to be too over-zealous in setting that figure,” she said.
    In an effort to determine what matters most, Dorsey-Durepo said UWA officials travel to northern, central and southern Aroostook to speak at workplaces “to come up with ideas and creative ways to raise money.”
    “That was such a success this year. We were able to communicate with workplace campaigns. We’re listening to what you say. In doing so, we become more entrenched in communities,” Dorsey-Durepo said.
    Officials at the meeting did not discuss their goal for the coming year. That figure will be set in the next few weeks.
    Entertaining before the presentation of awards was this year’s Northern Star winner, Isabelle Pelletier.
    Stevens took to the podium next, with Zillman and Dorsey-Durepo assisting with the presentations.
    First to be recognized were the top 12 workplace campaigns.
    “Every workplace campaign is important. We want to thank everyone who held a workplace campaign for the UWA. Without your help, we would not be able to help the County’s most vulnerable citizens who are elderly, women and children who are abused, people with mental retardation, homelessness and meeting basic human needs,” said Stevens.
    The top 12 were acknowledged, with rankings based on the total dollars pledged. Representatives of each agency stepped forward to receive their respective award. Twin Rivers Paper Co.’s workers had the best campaign, with employees raising just over $28,584. Recipients are listed, from first to twelfth in rank: Twin Rivers Paper Co., formerly Fraser Papers, Madawaska; The Aroostook Medical Center; MMG Insurance; Katahdin Trust Company; Smith & Wesson; Naturally Potatoes; Maine Public Service Co.; United Parcel Service; Aroostook County Action Program; KeyBank; Northern Maine Medical Center; and University of Maine at Presque Isle.
    This year’s Campaign Excellence Award went to Maine Public Service Co.
    “This award goes to a business and good corporate citizen that has supported the UWA for many years. Fifty-eight employees contributed to the workplace campaign, raising over $9,300. Their gigantic yard sale last September raised over $2,400. Combined with a corporate gift and sponsorships for all of our special events, the total contribution from this company was over $15,000,” said Stevens.
    This year’s Outstanding United Way Agency honor went to an organization with a reputation for helping those in desperate need of assistance.
    “The agencies that the UWA helps support also support the UWA with their own workplace campaign. This year we would like to award one of our agencies for not only outstanding commitment to United Way through their financial commitment to the campaign, but for the work that they do to help UWA fulfill its mission,” said Stevens.
    Stevens said several years ago the UWA asked this year’s recipient to start a program to help individuals unable to obtain assistance elsewhere.
    “We asked Helping Hands for Children and Families to start a program for us that would help those people who were in desperate need of assistance and had no place to turn. Together, we created a program called Helping Neighbors. Through this program, we have been able to help with many needs. That includes providing clothing, emergency travel expenses, fuel assistance, utility assistance, rental and mortgage assistance,” said Stevens. “Please join me in recognizing Andy Michalka from Helping Hands for his outstanding commitment to people in need.”
    Also recognized at the dinner were all the campaign volunteers, Campaign Chair Dorsey-Durepo and other award recipients, including bronze-level donors who contributed between $500 and $999 for this year’s campaign; silver level donors, with donations between $1,000 and $1,999; and gold level contributors of between $2,000 and $5,000.
    Allocations and grant awards for 2010-11 included:
• Emergency Food and Shelter — American Red Cross, $6,000; Battered Women’s Project/Hope and Justice Project, $25,000; Catholic Charities ME Home Supplies and Food Bank, $15,000; Grace Interfaith Food Table, $5,000; Salvation Army, Houlton unit, $19,000; and Homeless Services of Aroostook, $26,000; for a total of $96,000;
• Children and Adults — Central Aroostook ARC, $10,000; and St. John Valley Associates, $12,000; for a total of $22,000;
• Family Support Services — ACAP, Child & Family Services, $15,000; AAP WIC Program, $15,500; Aroostook Council for Healthy Families Raising Stronger Families, $5,000; Central Aroostook Mentoring Program, $14,500; Empowering Life Ministries, $5,000; Helping Neighbors, $5,000; and Ryan’s Heart, $5,000; for a total of $77,500;
• Elderly and Homebound — AAA Meals on Wheels, $10,000; Catholic Charities Independent Living, $5,000; and Retired Senior Volunteer Program, $6,000; for a total of $21,000; and
• Youth At Risk — Aroostook Council for Healthy Families, $19,000; and ACAP, Health 1st HIV Outreach & Testing, $2,550; for a total of $21,550. This brings the total of the 2010-11 allocations to $238,050.
    For more information on the UWA, contact 764-5197 or e-mail acunited@mfx.net.

Staff photos/Kathy McCarty

    CLAUDIA STEVENS, director of the United Way of Aroostook, reads the list of this year’s honorees, during the UWA’s annual meeting, held May 5 in Presque Isle.

    BONNIE FOSTER, outgoing president of the United Way of Aroostook, was honored for her dedication and commitment to the organization during the UWA’s May 5 annual meeting, held at in Presque Isle. Pictured, from left: UWA President Don Zillman; Foster; and Campaign Chair Carolyn Dorsey-Durepo.

    ISABELLE PELLETIER, winner of this year’s Northern Star competition, performed during the United Way of Aroostook’s annual meeting, held May 5 in Presque Isle.