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Introducing Bill Hanna,
2009 United Way Campaign Chairman
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Bill Hanna, 2009 Campaign Chairman visits with Susan Grobmyer, 2008 Campaign Chair, at the Wrap-up event held in December.
Campaign Chairman this year is Bill Hanna, President of Hanna Oil & Gas. He also serves as Endowment Chairman.
Bill answered these questions about United Way.
What is your first memory of United Way? When my dad was campaign chairman. He was always excited about what United Way was doing.
How did you get involved with United Way?
I cannot remember who first asked me, but it was through the allocation process. I truly enjoyed seeing how our donated dollars were being used.
Why did you decide to become a leadership giver?
We have a commitment to community at our company.
We have been blessed with good fortune. We look for good reasons to give, and don't have to look very far when it concerns United Way. It is also a way to encourage others to do the same.
In ten years, United Way will be thought of in a way that will be easy for people in the community to associate it with the good work they are doing. And the current list of agencies will be in a position of less dependence upon United Way, so that other deserving groups can also benefit. I would also hope that the endowment is strong and the earnings can completely fund the service center, so that we can easily say that 100% of the donated dollars go to those who need it most. |
| Come volunteer for Day of Caring on April 16
What is Day of Caring?
United Way of Fort Smith Area Day of Caring is a unique opportunity for community volunteers and employees in a workplace to come together, develop team-building skills and make a difference in our community by taking part in work projects. Day of Caring gives individuals and company employees a chance to "adopt" volunteer projects at non-profit organizations, cities or schools in Fort Smith and surrounding areas.
When?
Day of Caring is Thursday, April 16. Deadline to register for projects is Friday, April 3. All projects begin at 8:30 am and end with lunch at noon unless otherwise noted.
Where?
Projects are available in Alma, Barling, Booneville, Charleston, Greenwood, Lavaca, Ozark, Paris, Sallisaw and Van Buren. Check your Day of Caring Coordinator Guide.
Special events are scheduled at:
7:30 a.m. - Golden Corral, 1801 South Waldron Road, Fort Smith
7:30 a.m. and noon-North Franklin County Fair Building, Ozark, AR
7:30 a.m.-Bearcat Restaurant, Booneville, AR
Noon-Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County, Sallisaw, OK
Who can participate?
We want you! Check out the projects and see where your skills will be best utilized. Open your heart. Lend your muscle. Give a half day or more. Volunteer April 16 for Day of Caring!
How do I sign up?
Check with your company Day of Caring Coordinator to sign up for a project, go online to www.unitedwayfortsmith.org to access the online list of projects (coming soon) or call Sarah Fowler at 479-782-1311. She will have the latest project availabilitly after Day of Caring Coordinator Guides are mailed. |
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We need your information!
Last year, United Way implemented a new database system to help the organization better track its donors, volunteers and company campaigns. In that process, the staff has been working hard to update information and check that all names, addresses and contacts are correct. In order to confirm that all communications are routed to the right people, the organization is asking for updated contact information including names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
"If a company has named a new employee campaign coordinator or new top contact, please let us know so that we can direct all communications to the right person," said Brittany Ransom, Resource Development Director. "This helps ensure that the proper individual is receiving the information they need for campaign dates and upcoming projects."
Having up-to-date information is especially critical during the heaviest campaign time. Many times, companies change their campaign coordinator on a yearly basis; because of this, the resource development directors and volunteers need to know who their primary contact should be to deliver packets and schedule presentations.
To update or check on your company's contact information, please call 782-1311 or e-mail unitedway@mynewroads.com. |
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Make sure to let United Way know of your upcoming events and fundraisers! We will be glad to announce them or brag about your success in Campaign Connection!
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Use special events to add excitement
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Keeping everyone excited about your United Way campaign is vital to its success. Whether you use a singular event at a kickoff rally or various events throughout your campaign, special activities are a great way to have fun, boost awareness about United Way and raise more funds for your campaign.
Picture Puzzle - Take pictures of hands, feet and other parts of different people in the office and piece them together and have employees pick what belongs to whom.
Office Olympics - Have each department create a flag that represents their department. Have a parade of flags as part of the opening ceremonies, and have the flags judged. Events include: chair races, box-of-paper-snowshoe-racing, trashcan long jump, etc.
Management Services Auction - Place a bid for your boss to do your job for a day.
Sing-a-gram - Have campaign committee go around and sing songs to unsuspecting coworkers that have been sent a sing-a-gram.
Host a Wii Tournament - Charge an entry fee and give a trophy to the winning team.
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Upcoming Events
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Casino Night
The Fourth Annual Casino Night will be held Saturday, March 7, at 6:30 pm at St. Mary's Lawrence Hall in Altus. This year's theme is "Hillbilly Hollywood". Partygoers are welcome to come as their favorite Hollywood star, their favorite Hillbilly, or anyone in between!
The evening begins with drinks and social time. A sit down dinner with dessert will follow. After dinner, attendees will try their luck at various casino games; such as, Craps, Black Jack, Texas Hold 'Em and Roulette with $10,000 in play monies. Play monies will be used to bet on prizes during the live auction.
Cash games for fabulous prizes will be back this year. Participants will be able to try their luck at Wheel of Fortune, Card Sharks and March Madness. Again this year, someone will win the opportunity to play "Deal or No Deal" for $1,000.
Tickets for Casino Night are $35 for each adult or $60 per couple. To expand gaming access tickets are limited to 225 this year, so get your ticket early.
YLG hosts the NWA Naturals
The Young Leadership Group (YLG) will be hosting its first event of 2009 on March 19th. All YLG members will be invited to come out and hear Steven Davis of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals speak about the team and its upcoming season.
The luncheon will begin at 11:30 am and will be held at the community center at Creekmore Park in Fort Smith. In line with the baseball theme, guests will be treated to hot dogs and popcorn. Those in attendance will be eligible to win game tickets and other prizes donated by the NWA Naturals.
For more information, contact Brittany Ransom at 782-1311 or by e-mail at Brittany.litchford@unitedway.org.
NALC 'Help Stamp out Hunger' food drive
On Saturday, May 9, letter carriers will be collecting nonperishable food donations along their routes. They will deliver the donations to the post offices where volunteers will take them to area food banks or pantries. It is the annual "Stamp Out Hunger" drive conducted by the National Association of Letter Carriers - the largest one-day food drive in the nation.
If you would like to volunteer to help sort and pack the donated non-perishable food items at a post office, distribute food to the pantries or if your company would like to place a collection box in its lobby, please contact United Way by calling 479-782-1311 or emailing unitedway@mynewroads.com.
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United Way Day at Panera Bread
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Panera Bread in Fort Smith hosted its annual United Way Day on Thursday, February 19. Volunteers and United Way staff greeted customers from 7 am to 1 pm. Members of YLG helped sign up people for the drawing, sell United Way tumblers and inform customers about the organization. Ten percent of all sales during that time benefited United Way.
Karin Hobbs was the winner of the $25 Panera Bread gift certificate and coffee mug donated by the store.
"We are grateful to Panera Bread for allowing us to host this event every year," said Tom Minton. "Our donors, volunteers and staff look forward to it and it is a great way for us to be out in the community for everyone to see."
Many board members and United Way supporters came in for breakfast, lunch or coffee during the morning and early afternoon. Several others called in orders for their offices and picked them up throughout the day.
"We want to thank everyone who called in orders and came out to support United Way at Panera Bread," added Minton. "We also want to say thank you to Claudine Stark and the other Panera staff as well as to all of the volunteers who helped make the event a great success."
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Arvest Bank Chili Cook-off
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On February 13, Arvest Bank hosted a Chili cook-off at the tower on Rogers Avenue. Numerous associates submitted entries for the cook-off.
The winner was Debra Farris with her submission, "Is That Chili?"
Proceeds from the event benefited United Way. A special thank you to all who participated in the event. Arvest Bank will continue with fundraisers throughout the year to benefit United Way.
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Arvest Bank conducts leadership tours
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Arvest Bank's Leadership Team dropped by United Way offices on February 12. Members were treated to coffee and donuts and were welcomed by United Way Executive Director Tom Minton and Resource Development Director Brittany Ransom. Bill Hanna, 2009 Campaign Chair, shared with the group his experiences on allocation panels, as endowment chair and what he was looking forward in the coming year. He explained that he was aware it would be a difficult year for fundraising.
"But in difficult times like these, the need is going to be even greater ," said Hanna, "and therefore United Way has an even bigger responsibility. "
Team members then asked questions about United Way, its partner agencies and how dollars are allocated to the community. After wrapping up, the Arvest group toured Fort Smith Adult Education Center and United Way community partners, Next Step Day Room and Lincoln Childcare.
Every year, Arvest Bank's Leadership Team tours local agencies and the United Way office in order to learn about non-profit organizations and the needs of the community. The team is comprised of Arvest associates. To be in the group is an honor and each member goes through an application process.
"We enjoy hosting Arvest Bank's Leadership Team at our office every year," said Executive Director Tom Minton. "Arvest Bank is such a wonderful United Way supporter and the leadership team is just one example of how their company is working to making a difference here in our community."
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Give.
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| United Way's annual campaign is the easiest and most powerful way to invest in your community.
United Way addresses the needs important to people who live and work in Crawford, Franklin, LeFlore, Logan, Sebastian and Sequoyah counties. |
Advocate.
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You can make change happen with your voice. Get informed. Tell your friends. United Way needs people passionate about education, income and health to make some noise.
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Volunteer.
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Join hands. Open your heart. Give an hour. Give a Saturday. Think of we before me. Reach out a hand to one and influence the condition of all.
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