In the News
Charter Homes is honored with the Chair’s award from the United Way
February 8, 2006
Feb. 4--Poppers went off all over Liberty Place Thursday night when the United Way of Lancaster County announced to a crowd of 400 that it had hit the $10 million mark for the first time in its 80-year history.
The 2005 fundraising campaign raised $10,000,301, a 4.2 percent increase over 2004's $9.6 million campaign. This year's total is the 13th consecutive year of record-breaking campaigns.
To reach the record breaker this year, employee giving went up 5.1 percent, corporate giving increased 2.4 percent and leadership giving of $1,000 or more grew by a "whopping" 20 percent, campaign chairman Joe Del Tito said.
"It's been an incredible year, a caring year," Del Tito said. "We got off to a fairly strong start, but then the hurricanes and natural disasters hit. We wondered if we could get to $10 million, which was our goal, although not our stated goal -- which was just to surpass last year's campaign."
By the end of the campaign, the United Way was fairly close to the $10 million mark, so it asked a few large donors to give some more.
"They stepped in, and we hit our milestone," he said. A 4.2 percent increase is "gigantic," Del Tito said, "but we have such a caring and giving community that I was not surprised (the milestone was hit)."
"Ten million dollars was the target before us all," Susan Eckert, president of United Way of Lancaster County, said. "With his eye on the prize, Joe (Del Tito) convened dedicated, capable volunteers and gave them flexibility."
Eckert said this year's success also was built on the past successes by previous campaign chairs, eight of whom were in attendance Thursday night. A video of the winners of the incentive prizes of a car, motorcycle and cruise shown Thursday "put a human face on the donors who work hard and make a gift to help others. And even though they could not afford to give, they knew what it means to be generous. ... It's pretty remarkable to see the generosity we experience," Eckert said.
Also Thursday night, the United Way presented several awards. The Spirit of Lancaster Award, the highest tribute for company or organization-wide corporate community involvement, was given to Lancaster General Hospital for increasing its donors from 1,881 to 2,302 and surpassing its goal of $300,000 by raising $308,279, a 15 percent increase. It also co-sponsored the United Way's Day of Caring, the 2005 campaign video and United Way LINC's "Where to Call Guide," bringing its total monetary contribution to more than $375,000.
The 2005 Campaign Chair's Award, given to a company who has demonstrated a commitment to United Way of Lancaster County through innovative ideas that influence the community campaign countywide, was presented to Charter Homes, which began The House that Baxter Built project in 1997. The project has become a model that numerous communities have since adopted.
The 2005 Agency Commitment Award, a new award given in recognition of the individual's support and the agency's commitment to the campaign, was presented to William V. Dunstan of Visiting Nurse Association. Dunstan implemented new strategies for the nonprofit division of the campaign. His own organization increased its donation by 61 percent for a total of $6,242.
The 2005 Campaign Coordinator of the Year is Jennifer L. Brommer of Fulton Bank. Brommer increased the number of donors and dollars for four consecutive years and hit a record high this year with 910 donors contributing $296,444.
Other outstanding coordinators honored were Robert Manley of Acme/Albertsons, Terri Herr and Norman Randall of Anderson Bakery Co., Heather Varnes of BMC, Deborah Frey and Carol Thomas of Flexsteel Industries Inc., Fay Snyder of Harrisburg Area Community College, David Thompson of HomeTowne Heritage Bank, Linda Levan and Karen Nolt of Kunzler & Co. Inc., Lisa Allison and Lisa Bamford of Lancaster Laboratories, Julie Henderson of Packaging Corp. of America and Michael Coombe of Wachovia.
Copyright © 2006 Lancaster New Era, Pa.
