to Make Holidays Brighter for Neighbors in Need

United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region is asking shoppers at the Gallerias at Crystal Run and in Poughkeepsie to “Give 15” minutes during their weekend shopping Dec. 10 or 11 to help make a this holiday season a little brighter for their neighbors in need.

The Galleria at Crystal Run Center Court will be the site of the Middletown project from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., Dec. 10. In Poughkeepsie, the event will be held on the stage in front of JCPenney on the Galleria’s lower level from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun., Dec. 11. United Way’s Annual Workplace Campaign Chair and popular 92.1 LiteFM personality Joe Daily will be on hand in Middletown from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, and in Poughkeepsie from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the events to thank Poughkeepsie shoppers for their participation in the project.

The “Give 15” project is designed by United Way to promote a spirit of giving and volunteerism to local shoppers by offering a few minutes of their time and possibly that of their children to help a neighbor. People can purchase a warm blanket for $10 and write a greeting or have their kids draw a picture on a gift tag that will wrap around the blanket to be given to shelter dwellers. Or, they can fill a toiletry bag with essential items donated by What A Store!, located in the Galleria at Crystal Run, and Jellybean Promotions of Goshen, and add a personal note on a gift tag. Gift bags will be distributed to recipients in local shelters, food and other programs in Dutchess and Orange Counties.

“It’s a great way for neighbors to help neighbors who may be facing difficult times and possibly bleak holidays for themselves and their families,” said Campaign Chair Daily. “A warm blanket with a note from a child or a gift bag of toiletries will bring not only cheer but the comforting feeling that someone in our community cares about them. It also fulfills United Way’s mission to foster community service and volunteerism from an early age for Dutchess and Orange residents.”

Event Featured Sponsors are IBM Corp. and 8 Hats High Animation & Production. Grand Sponsors are Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.; Tarshis, Catania, Liberth, Mahon & Milligram; Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell; and, Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Platinum Sponsors are Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, Marshall & Sterling Insurance and Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union. Silver Sponsor is Iseman Cunningham Riester and Hyde.

For more information, call Julie Wittenberg at 845-457-4774 x. 3108.

Calling all Employee Campaign Managers(ECMs)…Start planning your campaign today and you can win BIG!

Download the instruction sheet!
Download the points tracking worksheet!

Earn at least 90 out of the possible 125 points by December 1 and you and your Loaned Executive will be entered in a raffle to win amazing prizes! Earn all 125 points and you will receive an extra raffle entry!

First Prize: $500 Gift certificate to Target

Second Prize: $250 in gasoline

Complete these easy tasks to earn points:

• Sign up to receive weekly Campaign E-news (5 points)
• Attend ECM Training or Online Training  (5 points)
• Attend a Kick-Off event on either Septmber 9 or 10 (5 points)
• Attend Campaign Finale Celebration (5 points)
  Note: RSVPs to Finale will earn points pending check-in at Finale. If you do not show, and those points put you below the minimum entry of 90 points, you are not eligible to win the contest.
• BONUS! 5 points for bringing a guest to an event (limit 5 points per event, you will not earn more for additional guests)
• Meeting with Loaned Executive to plan group meeting (15 points)
• Use of incentives or fun themes to encourage campaign participation (5 points)
• Hosting an event or fundraiser outside of normal campaign participation and send us a photo and paragraph about the “event” (10 points)
• CEO endorsement at group meeting or via letter to the employees (5 points)
• Visually advertise campaign at workplace with posters, emails, newsletters, etc. (10 points)
• Group meeting(s) with at least 50% of employees in attendance – 25% for larger companies (20 points!)
• % increase in number of Community Fund Donors in workplace over last year (10 points)
• % per capita increase in Community Fund Dollars over last year (10 points)
• Return all pledge cards back to United Way, regardless of donation – if applicable (5 points)
• Turn in fully completed report envelope(s) by Dec. 1 (5 points)
• Complete and submit ECM survey by Dec. 1 (10 points)

Education, Income, and Health are the building blocks for creating a stronger community.  The priorities set forth by the newly merged United Way require a deep level of participation from the community.  United Way’s priorities are: to make sure children reach the benchmarks for graduation, to help individuals and families achieve financial independence and/or raise their standard of living, and to provide access to quality, affordable medical, dental and behavioral healthcare for everyone. 

 To further these priorities:

• $382,692 from the Community Fund will be used for programs that will make a measurable impact on Education in Dutchess and Orange Counties.
• $555,401 from the Community Fund will be used for programs that will make a measurable impact on Income in Dutchess and Orange Counties.
• $419,467 from the Community Fund will be used for programs that will make a measurable impact on Health in Dutchess and Orange Counties.

United Way’s Community Fund is comprised of undesignated donor dollars.  United Way always respects our donors’ right to choose how their donations are used.  The Community Impact Council, which is comprised of volunteers from all walks of life in Dutchess and Orange Counties, decides how the Community Fund dollars are best utilized.

“United Way is grateful to have the support of an amazing group of community volunteers who help make the key decisions about what programs receive funding,” said Martin Harnick, Volunteer Community Impact Council Chair.  “I myself have been a member of United Way’s Community Impact Council for over ten years now, so I am well aware of the intensive time commitment and responsibility our volunteers are charged with.  They take their roles very seriously and we commend them for all their hard work.”

Additionally, a pool of $93,690 in undesignated donor dollars will be used to fund projects and/or programs that the community deems important in furthering these priorities for Education, Income and Health.  United Way of Dutchess and Orange Counties recently began hosting a series of Community Education Conversations, which bring together people from all sectors in the community. 

Our first Education Conversation held on June 9^th was led by Jay Connor the Founder/CEO of the Collaboratory for Community Solutions. Jay has extensive leadership experience in the art of linking sectors of the community, initiatives, technologies, and systems in achieving community solutions.  The first Education Conversation was met with a positive reception and generated a lot of interest in forming community-wide collaborations to help children achieve their full potential in school and in life.  A second Conversation is being planned for mid September.

“United Way is taking a brand new approach to creating community solutions,” said Dr. Donald N. Hammond, President and CEO.  “We are looking to set priorities that engage our community to develop solutions together.  I believe that we all have unique ideas and perspectives that can be used to build a stronger community for us all.”

 United Way is a nonprofit organization that funds programs and projects that help children and youth succeed, promote financial stability, and promote health and well-being.  United Way makes a measurable difference in people’s lives by securing resources and developing relationships to build a stronger, more vibrant community.  For more information about ways to help your community through United Way or for a list of the programs United Way funds, call our Poughkeepsie office at (845) 471-1900 or our Montgomery office at (845) 457-4774.

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