Tuesday, December 20, 2011

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.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Get your Christmas presented wrapped by UWLC volunteers

Need your Christmas presented wrapped?

Stop up at The Great Lakes Mall in Mentor between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. today, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and get your presents wrapped by United Way of Lake County volunteers.

The gift wrapping station is by American Eagle.

Volunteers will be accepting donations on behalf of United Way of Lake County.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

United Way distributes $23,600 worth of food


As part of the 2011 Feed Lake County Campaign, United Way of Lake County distributed about $23,600 worth of food Wednesday to 52 food pantries and residential facilities across the county.
Overall, the 2011 Feed Lake County Campaign raised approximately 45,500 pounds of food and $60,000 in cash. Cash donations to Feed Lake County were used throughout the year to make purchases for the food pantries in September, November and this week.
On Tuesday, Giant Eagle dropped off about $20,000 worth of peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, tuna, tuna helper, fruit cocktail and fruit juice to United Way of Lake County’s Mentor office. An additional $3,600 worth of food was donated Wednesday morning by the Mentor Fire Department.

Volunteers from Teen Challenge and Lake House Men’s Residential distributed the items to the food pantries as they came to pick them up.
The majority of the food donations were distributed to food pantries in April as part of United Way of Lake County’s Second Annual Food Parade and Celebration.
The food pantries continue to see an increase in numbers. Last year, more than 6,000 people used the food pantry system and between 700 and 1,100 residents needed help on a weekly basis. These food pantries report they are seeing 10 to 20 new visitors each week. Many first time social service clients are 40 to 50 years old, have lost their jobs, exhausted their benefits and are looking desperately for somewhere to turn.
Frances Teresczuk, president of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - Saint Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry in Wickliffe, said her food pantry served 105 families in November.
“This donation is very important to us,” said Teresczuk. “With what we receive from United Way and our parishioners, it helps us out tremendously, and I don’t think we’d survive without it.”
Albert Jones, Deacon of St. Johns Baptist Church in Painesville, said his food pantry has also seen an increase of people in need of food.
“We are seeing people who would have never expected to have come here,” he said. “We’re blessed that we are able to supply them with food thanks to United Way.”
United Way of Lake County always accepts food or cash donations, which can be sent to 9285 Progress Parkway, Mentor, OH 44060. Those in need of food can call 2-1-1 to be referred to a local food pantry.