United Way announces Workplace Campaign Co-chairs

FORT ATKINSON, WI – September 19, 2005 – Brian Bartos, Board Chair of the United Way of Jefferson and North Walworth Counties, announces that Barb LeDuc, president, Opportunities Inc. and Frank Wichmann, manager, Business Health Services at Fort HealthCare will be co-chairing the organization’s annual workplace campaign. Workplace campaigns are conducted by local employers who provide employees the opportunity to voluntarily donate to United Way. According to Bartos, workplace campaigns account for 76% of the local United Way’s annual campaign,

“Our United Way is both pleased and grateful to have Barb and Frank once again be co-chairs our annual workplace campaign,” said Bartos. “Their leadership and commitment to our organization is extremely valuable.”

On September 7th over 20 local employers were represented at a networking and campaign training session hosted by LeDuc and Wichmann. Topics covered at this session ranged from the history of the local United Way, to why an individual should invest in the local United Way, campaign strategies, sample special events and a presentation by People Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse (PADA) a United Way partner agency.

According to Wichmann, this event brings together new and seasoned workplace campaign volunteers who coordinated their respective employer’s campaigns. These volunteers will then go back to their workplaces and recruit additional campaign volunteers. “In all there will be over 75 workplace campaign volunteers throughout our corporate partners,” said Wichmann.

In 2004 our United Way’s partner agencies touched the lives of over 15,000 people, nearly 1 out of every 4 residents in our service area. Any man, woman or child – regardless of age, skin color or ability to pay was afforded the opportunity to improve their life by working with a United Way partner agency, according to Dan McCrea, the organization’s executive director.

“United Way contributions are carefully invested in programs that are effective, results oriented and provide direct benefits to local residents throughout our communities,” said Bartos “Our United Way is investing in the following four focus areas; children and youth programs, encouraging knowledge and independence, providing basic needs, and providing health and well being programs.”

The United Way of Jefferson and North Walworth Counties partners with over 30 health and human service agencies that provide local services throughout the communities of Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Hellenville, Lake Mills, Palmyra, Sullivan and Whitewater. For more information about United Way, visit www.ourunitedway.com or contact 920.563.8880.

United Way - investing in what matters; community, working together and results.