Special to the American
The United Way is asking the community to lend a hand.
Last week United Way of Greater St. Louis on Wednesday announced the goal for its 2008 fundraising campaign. The $65.5 million goal is “ambitious but realistic” given the challenging economic times, said campaign co-chairs Andy Taylor, chairman and CEO of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Doug Albrecht, chairman of Bodley Group and former chairman, CEO, and president of Centric Group.
“Tough economic times are affecting everybody, in our region and across the country,” Taylor said.
“But they strike the hardest at people who may find themselves out of a job, without health insurance, or a safe place to live. These are our neighbors, and they need our help. We need everyone who can to lend a hand.”
This year’s campaign is a literal call to arms for the community, with the handprint becoming the symbol for lending a hand to the 2008 United Way campaign. Throughout the campaign, a banner with the local community’s handprints will be used in a variety of ways to help engage citizens and build excitement about the campaign.
Agencies funded by United Way of Greater St. Louis provide vital health and human services to 1 million people each year, approximately one of every three people in the region. In all, nearly 200 diverse agencies across the region operate with funding from United Way of Greater St. Louis.
“The importance of helping neighbors in need is more critical than ever,” Taylor said.
Requests to United Way-funded agencies and calls to the United Way’s 2-1-1 Help Line for assistance with basic needs are up approximately 50 percent over last year, and agencies are facing challenges in meeting the increased demand. Transportation costs at the St. Louis Area Foodbank, which distributes much-needed food to shelters, residential programs, and food pantries across the region, have risen 120 percent in the first six months of 2008.
“Every gift counts when it comes to United Way giving,” Albrecht said. “Whether you can give $1 or $1,000, we’re asking everyone across the region who can to contribute at some level.”
Albrecht and Taylor announced the 2008 campaign goal at Kingdom House, 1321 S. 11th St. in St. Louis, a United Way-funded agency that provides child day care, youth services, employment and training services, and senior companion services. Kingdom House has served residents of the near South Side since 1902, and it has received funding from United Way since 1923.
“These really are challenging times for the people we serve. In fact, we’re seeing more and more people who’ve never had to ask for help before,” said Tom Sanders, Kingdom House’s executive director. “We simply couldn’t do what we do without this community’s support of the United Way.”
For the past five years, the St. Louis region has been one of the top five areas in the nation for United Way giving, behind only Seattle, Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Houston – and ahead of such cities as Chicago and New York.
Taylor said, “We thank our community for demonstrating such generosity, and we’re calling on our neighbors across the region to be generous again this year.”
Last year, more than 200,000 donors and 2,500 businesses donated to United Way. Importantly, money raised for the local campaign will stay in the 16 Missouri and Illinois counties: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, Warren, and Lincoln in Missouri; Calhoun, Green, Macoupin, Jersey, Madison, Clinton, St. Clair, Monroe, and Randolph in Illinois.
“While the economic pressures faced by individual campaign contributors are real, they are particularly daunting for the individuals we serve,” Gary Dollar, president and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis, said.
“Still, the people in this region have a rich history of supporting one another, and I am hopeful this year will be no exception.”
The 2008 fundraising campaign kicks off September 3 and continues through early November. Approximately 2,500 employers in the 16-county region participate in United Way fundraising campaigns. In addition to contributing through an employer-sponsored campaign, individuals can pledge a donation by calling 314-421-0700 or visiting www.givetodayhelptoday.org.