Avery Dennison posts record-high employee campaign for UWLC

December 20, 2011 – Mentor, OH – Employees at Avery Dennison donated a record high $178,200 to United Way of Lake County as part of the company’s annual United Way campaign.

The money raised during the company’s campaign is the highest employee campaign ever conducted in United Way of Lake County history and is a 6 percent increase from the company’s 2010 campaign.

“It brings a great sense of pride to our entire organization to have achieved the highest donations for an annual campaign in the history of United Way of Lake County,” said Bob Kuniega, vice president of Sales for the Label and Packaging Materials business at Avery Dennison. “Community is one of our company’s core values, and United Way provides us with an extraordinary opportunity to support a number of very deserving causes.”

Avery Dennison’s campaign had many highlights this year including:

•    Raising a combined $233,200 during its campaign including its corporate donation.
•    Posting a 67 percent employee participation rate, which was 6 percent higher than last year.
•    Raising money through a pancake breakfast, a silent auction, corn-toss tournaments and a raffle.
•    Top employee contributors were entered into a drawing to win a one-day trip to New York City.
•    Having two employees whose lives were changed through United Way programs speak to their co-workers and tell their stories.

“Our employees are very committed and engaged in supporting their neighbors in need and showed that commitment with their contributions,” Kuniega said.

One incentive to increase employee donations was winning a one-day trip to New York City on December 22, which will be paid for by Avery Dennison.

John Klein, vice president of Global Procurement for Avery Dennison, was the lucky winner and will fly to New York City, meet with United Way of New York City, and take a city-wide tour to learn how United Way impacts a city that size.

“Giving back to the community is essential,” Klein said. “My wife and I regularly review which charitable organizations we can help support each year. While some of our choices vary from year to year, United Way is an organization we contribute to consistently. It offers us a wonderful opportunity to support a wide array of diverse causes through one organization and has a high ratio of donations to expenses incurred. This is important to us, because we know that most of our donations are going directly to support those in need.”

Money raised during the 2011 United Way of Lake County campaign benefits 74 partner programs that the nonprofit organization funds.  These programs focus on senior citizens, health and human services, children and families and basic needs.