For 81 years, United Way of the Midlands has been changing lives in Douglas and Sarpy counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa.
Today, the UNMC community is encouraged to help with that effort as the campus kicks off its 2004 United Way campaign with a goal of $120,000, a 4 percent increase over last year’s overall donation of $116,000.
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The campaign runs through Oct. 29.
UNMC employees who serve on the United Way steering committee are in the process of distributing pledge cards. Employees who turn in their pledge cards will be eligible for prize drawings on Oct. 18, 25, and Nov. 1. Winners will be announced in UNMC Today. Prizes include gift certificates to Borsheim’s, Westroads, Hy-Vee, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Center for Healthy Living, Amoco, Target and Best Buy.
Overall, the United Way of the Midlands hopes to raise $21 million, a 4 percent increase over last year’s overall contributions. United Way also is committed to distributing as much money as possible to agencies. For every dollar donated, 90 cents is returned to an affiliated agency. More specifically, there are agencies funded by contract from which UNMC receives direct support, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the American Heart Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
“This gives employees an opportunity to contribute to agencies that serve many individuals and families in our communities, as well as benefit the research being done at UNMC,” said Gerald Moore, M.D., associate dean in the College of Medicine and chairman of UNMC’s United Way campaign for the second consecutive year. “With the full participation of all employees at UNMC, we can ensure that the services continue for everyone in our community.”
Gifts to United Way of the Midlands also support the state of Nebraska’s pilot 2-1-1 call center. This allows anyone in the Omaha area to connect with hundreds of local organizations that offer everything from utility assistance and medical support groups to counseling and local hotlines. 2-1-1 call specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 2-1-1 directory also is available on-line at www.uwmidlands.org/directory.
In addition, United Way of the Midlands plays a vital role in management of volunteers in time of crisis. Plans are being developed to recruit, register, assign and track volunteers during man-made or natural disasters, in what is known as the Personnel Processing Point (PPP). United Way also is the local sponsor for the Medical Reserve Corps, which recruits current and retired health professionals who are willing to serve during disaster and public health emergencies.
For more information about the United Way of the Midlands campaign, visit its Web site at uwmidlands.org. For information about the UNMC campaign, contact Shawn Cook at 559-6027 or smcook@unmc.edu.