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September 5, 2008

United Way kicks off campaign

By Howard Greninger

TERRE HAUTE — “Give, Advocate, Volunteer — Live United.”

That’s the slogan for the United Way of the Wabash Valley as it begins its annual fundraising campaign, with this year’s goal of $2 million.

The campaign already has reached 40 percent of that goal — $804,701 — announced Casey Stephenson, chairman of this year’s pilot campaign that traditionally jump-starts fundraising from business and industry. United Way’s 2008 Campaign Kick-Off was staged Friday in the Ohio Building Banquet Center, 672 Ohio St.

The funds will be used in 2009 to serve more than 40 agencies in Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties in Indiana and Clark County, Ill. The United Way goal is less this year than in its 2007 campaign, which raised $2.1 million, just short of its $2.3 million goal.

Fred Nation, executive vice president of corporate communications and public relations for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, addressed about 120 people as keynote speaker at the kick-off. Nation served eight years as press secretary for former Indiana governor and current U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh and also as press secretary (1979-80) for Bayh’s father, former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh.

Preparation is one way to overcome adversity, Nation said, referring to the national economy and a stronger effort needed to raise funds for the United Way.

As an example, he spoke about an Aug. 20 incident involving Penske Racing, when a Team Penske transporter caught fire on Interstate 80, west of Cheyenne, Wyo., caused by an apparent wheel bearing failure. The fire damaged two of the teams’ primary race cars and equipment.

Team Penske quickly used two other vehicles, transporting them from North Carolina to the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., where team drivers Helio Castroneves won the race, with Ryan Briscoe coming in second.

“Under that pressure, they performed. They did that because they work at that all the time and that is why they are one of the winningest teams in motorsports,” Nation said.

He said preparation and enthusiasm can make the United Way’s campaign successful.

“Yes, we are conducting a campaign in an environment that is not the best. Everybody here is aware of the current business environment. If you are in business, it is decreasing your sales. If in human services, it is increasing your workload,” he said.

“But that is no reason for excuses. It is reason for working even harder at a time when the Wabash Valley needs the services of United Way agencies even more,” he said.

Nation thanked Pfizer Inc. for its contributions to the United Way, even as the company will pull out of Vigo County early next year. “As they leave, they are continuing to help the United Way for the next two years, not all companies would do that. Thanks, Pfizer,” he said.

He listed many companies that came and left Terre Haute over the past 50 years — J.I. Case, Stran Steel, Commercial Solvents/IMC, Terre Haute Malleable, Weston/International Paper and others. Other companies, however, have replaced them, such as Sony and Great Dane and Kellogg, which is buying IndyBake in Seelyville.

“While Pfizer is leaving, it is part of the natural process that goes on all the time in this community and many others,” he said. “The Pfizer problem is not an excuse. This isn’t the first year that United Way leaders have had to face a major employer leaving and won’t be the last. It is a reason for all of us to work a little harder and dig a little deeper because more Wabash Valley citizens are going to need our help.”

Nation spoke of how he had used United Way-supported agencies, both himself and his family, such as family activities at the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club or Family YMCA and how his mother was served by Meals on Wheels.

He said problem-solving is a task that can help the United Way reach its goal.

He spoke of an incident told to him by the director of the Wabash Valley Chapter of the Red Cross, a United Way agency, about an elderly couple who had come to the Red Cross a week after the June floods seeking assistance.

The man said he had saved his wife from rising floodwaters.

“He came up with an innovative solution. Turns out he has one of these inflatable life-size dolls. He went and blew that up and [his wife] used that as a raft to float out of the house. Now that is innovative problem solving, whether it was good for their marriage I am not sure …,” Nation said with a chuckle.

Jeremiah Turner, publisher of the Tribune-Star, hopes to use an innovative solution this fall to help raise funds for United Way. Turner said a 10-day community online auction in early November could provide people with holiday gift items, as well as provide bidders as much as a 50 percent savings on items he hopes to secure over the next six weeks.

“While it will include gift certificates and gift baskets, we hope to have bigger items, perhaps a motorcycle or even items such as a Dixie Chopper lawnmower,” he said.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.

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