By Jim Nicholson
"Give Today. Help Today.”
is the promise of this year’s United Way of Greater St. Louis’
fund-raising slogan. It promises immediate charitable gratification
on donations from an organization funneling ninety cents of
every dollar raised straight to the people in need of its support,
a high standard of efficiency—three times that of the national
average.
It is also an invitation to the region to increase its generosity,
as this year’s campaign goal of $70 million is the organization’s
highest goal ever. Emerson President and CEO and Campaign Chair
David Farr is quick to note that while recent campaigns have
been very successful, the pace of giving has not kept up with
the pace of inflation. The current goal of $70 million, adjusted
for inflation, equates to the $54 million raised in 1996. “The
need is now,” says Farr. “By helping others we also help ourselves.
We’re asking anyone who can increase their gift as much as possible
to do so. United Way workplace campaign efforts are being redoubled,
and companies and individuals will be asked to give what they
can. However, it is important to remember that anyone can donate,
not just those in workplaces that host campaigns. In fact, individual
donations are key to helping us meet our goal.”
During this year’s fund-raising period (September 5 through
the end of October), Farr is asking the citizens of the metropolitan
area to demonstrate that they are just as generous as they were
eleven years ago—and statistics prove (the area is the 18th
largest market in the United States, yet ranks first in African-American
giving, fifth in women’s giving and sixth in overall United
Way campaign giving) they are extremely generous. Last year
more then 214,000 donors and 2,500 businesses donated to the
United Way. This year, an additional 400 companies have been
asked to hold their first United Way fundraising campaign and
companies with past United Way experience have been asked to
push to increase employee donations. Early results indicate
that campaign contributions have increased 15 percent over 2006.
“We want to make this a breakout year for the St. Louis community,”
Farr explains. “Reaching this financial benchmark means helping
additional people—our friends, neighbors, even family. It will
allow the United Way of Greater St. Louis and its member organizations
to successfully provide the care and programs that elevate the
lives of so many. We have ultimate confidence in the generosity
of the people and companies of the Greater St. Louis region,
which always lend us a helping hand.”
When it comes to United Way giving, that generosity has an immediate
impact on the counties (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St.
Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, Warren and Lincoln Counties in
Missouri and Calhoun, Green, Macoupin, Jersey, Madison, Clinton,
St. Clair, Monroe and Randolph Counties in Illinois) served
by the agency. Nearly 200 diverse agencies in the region operate
with funding from the United Way of Greater St. Louis and those
agencies provide vital healthcare and human services to one
out of every three people in the region. In essence, that means
that approximately one million people in the region receive
immediate benefit from United Way Donations.
“I’m always impressed with the generosity of this community,”
Farr expounds. “We live in a region that truly cares about its
neighbors. I see it when I visit the people at the agencies
we help fund, and I hear it everyday when I’m out talking with
people. I want to thank the people of this community for their
continued support of the United Way—people who make a profound
difference.”
The cause-effect component of the United Way is immediate. Give
Today. Help Today. That spontaneous act of generosity may well
earn you an equally spontaneous smile from a grateful recipient.
