Last week, United Way of Story County (UWSC) kicked off its 2017 LIVE UNITED campaign, announcing a $2.2 million goal. Thanks to the help of Pacesetters (businesses that raised money early to help kick-start the campaign), we have raised nearly $725,000. The financial resources will be used to fund programming in Story County that is making a positive impact on our community.
The mission of United Way of Story County (UWSC) is to be a strategic leader in building countywide partnerships to identify needs and to develop, support and evaluate effective human services, especially in the areas of education, income and health, for our diverse community. We do this because every person in our community has a right to have a good quality of life.
We believe that when we are United together, we can find solutions that make long-lasting, positive change in the lives of these individuals and families, which is why our 2017 LIVE UNITED campaign theme is United Together. Finding Solutions, Changing Lives.
Although publicly the annual campaign kicks off the Friday after Labor Day and wraps up with our Celebration Breakfast in the middle of December, UWSC staff and volunteers work on the campaign throughout the year. Once the campaign concludes, the planning begins. Campaign and event committees are formed and begin meeting to set goals and make plans. Agencies are chosen from each focus area of education, income, and health that will be featured in campaign materials, and photographs and video footage are taken. Brochures, pledge forms, bookmarks, envelopes, letters and various other materials are created and printed in preparation of the pacesetter campaigns and the overall campaign kickoff.
During the spring, the UWSC campaign director and campaign leadership begin to meet with CEOs and representatives of our pacesetters companies. They plan their company campaign kickoffs, which happen before UWSC’s public one. This allows UWSC to raise money toward the campaign goal and that amount gets announced at the Kickoff Breakfast, along with the names of pacesetter businesses.
The LIVE UNITED campaign is a large part of our organization, but that is only because of what the funds allow us to do in fulfilling our purpose for the community. UWSC is a leader in bringing community members and groups together to identify needs and work together to find long-term solutions to meet those needs and equip individuals and families for success.
Over the course of the campaign, we will share with you how we are changing lives by improving the quality of life for everyone in Story County. We invite you to join with us in fighting for the education, income, and health of every person in our community. Visit www.uwstory.org to find out how you can Give. Advocate. Volunteer.
United Way of Story County is a strategic leader in building countywide partnerships to identify needs and to develop, support and evaluate effective human services, especially in the areas of education, income and health, for our diverse community.
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