UNMC kicks off its United Way of the Midlands campaign

How UNMC benefits Donating to United Way agencies also benefits UNMC. Here are a few examples of how your contributions have benefited the campus: Three research grants from the American Diabetes Association totaling $647,000. Free vision screenings for children at the UNMC Child Development Center provided by Prevent Blindness Nebraska. More than $600,000 to UNMC from the American Heart Association. Two, three-year grants totaling $748,000 from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A one-year research grant totaling $183,000 from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Since 1923, the United Way of the Midlands has been there for families who have lost their homes to fires, sought free vision screenings for their children or pursued counseling. It has been there to help individuals who needed safe havens from alcohol abuse or domestic violence and to help those who sought prenatal education or support to deal with leukemia, Alzheimer’s or a disability.

Today, the UNMC campus kicks off its United Way campaign with a goal of $120,000. Employees who turn in their pledge cards will be eligible for prize drawings. Drawings will be Sept. 27, Oct. 4, and Oct. 11. Watch UNMC Today for prizewinners.

Campaign contributions, which can be made through UNMC’s payroll deduction, help fund 166 programs within 53 agencies in Douglas and Sarpy counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa. One in four people receive services or assistance from United Way of the Midlands organizations.

“This is a great opportunity to contribute to the organizations that do so many wonderful things in our community,” said Myrna Newland, M.D., chairwoman of UNMC’s United Way campaign. “There are many families who need and use United Way resources and the importance of funding for relief purposes can take many forms. If you look at the list of agencies and organizations, it’s really an amazing, all-encompassing list.”

How, what you can win UNMC will have drawings for prizes every Friday — Sept. 27, Oct. 4, and Oct. 11 — for a chance to win a variety of gift certificates. Turn your pledge cards in by Sept. 27 to be eligible for all three drawings. Check UNMC Today to see who received gift certificates from the following merchants: Borsheim’s Joslyn Art Museum UNMC’s Center for Health Living UNMC’s Lifestyle Enhancement Center Westroads Mall Crossroads Mall Target Amoco Gas Hy-Vee Best Buy Nebraska Furniture Mart Blockbuster Video Upstream Goldbergs Old Chicago Don & Millie’s Outback Steak House French Café Lo Sole Mio Ristorante Italiano One month free parking at UNMC

In recent years, the United Way of the Midlands has helped families in the community dig out from a paralyzing snowstorm and recover after floodwaters swept through local neighborhoods. Overall, the United Way of the Midlands hopes to raise $20 million in its 2002 campaign.

United Way of the Midlands’ primary role is to support and coordinate human services in its own metropolitan area. Families in need of help may contact the United Way’s “First Call for Help” to find available local services. First Call also can link individuals with local volunteer opportunities. The hotline number is 444-6666 and operates weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit the United Way Web site at www.uwmidlands.org.

Employees also can direct their United Way pledge to the Organ and Tissue Donor Task Force of Nebraska, which promotes awareness and education about the need for organ and tissue donation. Write on the bottom of the United Way card that you’d like to direct your designation to a non-United Way organization and add the address on the bottom:
Organ and Tissue Donor Task Force of Nebraska
986640 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-6640