May 23, 2007

Community Raises More Than $33.5 Million Through United Way Campaign

Support from individuals, companies, and special challenge grants keys to reaching goal

Rochester, NY – United Way 2007 campaign leaders, helped by an enthusiastic group of kindergarteners from Rochester City School District School No. 12, announced today that our community raised $33,502,018 through the 2007 United Way of Greater Rochester/Red Cross Campaign. The goal this year was $33.5 million.

“I couldn’t be more proud of what our community has accomplished,” said Thomas Judson, Chair of the 2007 United Way/Red Cross Campaign and President and CEO of The Pike Company. “It’s because of this incredible support that tens of thousands of people will get help they need—whether it’s through programs that help children succeed in school, or keep families and neighborhoods strong, or programs that are there for people in times of crisis.”

Gifts from local companies and employees served as a continued strong foundation for this year’s campaign.

Bausch & Lomb, Eastman Kodak Company, the University of Rochester, Wegmans, and Xerox each contributed more than $1 million and nearly 40 companies had corporate and employee gifts totaling more than $100,000.

“There were a number of keys to our success this year,” said Peter Carpino, President of United Way. “But what’s important to keep in mind is that any size gift matters. Collectively, when you give through United Way, your gift is joined with the gifts of others, to help people in our community who need it most.”

Also generating more energy in the campaign this year were a number of challenge grants targeting both new and current donors. Thanks to the support of 108 new companies, the Canandaigua National Bank $100,000 Challenge Grant was exceeded, with a total of $151,779 new dollars. When this year’s campaign kicked off, the bank generously offered to match all new gifts from small to midsize companies, dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000.

“Our region is growing stronger each day, thanks to small and midsize companies,” said George Hamlin, President and CEO of Canandaigua National Bank. “Our challenge to these great leaders and owners was to make an even greater difference in our region by investing in United Way—that’s exactly what they are doing. We’re honored they have risen to the challenge, and that our encouragement could play a critical role in that.”

In an effort to encourage growth in United Way’s major donor base, and inspire existing Alexis de Tocqueville Society members to increase their gifts, Society members Charles and Jean August offered to match, up to $100,000, any new Alexis de Tocqueville gifts this year, as well as increases from those currently giving at the $10,000 level. This led to 24 new donors stepping up to the Tocqueville giving level, and many current Tocqueville members increasing their gifts. All together, members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society raised more than $3.3 million for our community.

Other noteworthy accomplishments from the 2007 campaign include:

• Strong support from local labor unions, including members of UAW Local 1097, whose campaign participation went up 20%, and members of CWA Local 1170, who contributed over $175,000.
• United Way’s Fall Campaign, which counts as “first dollars in” toward the spring campaign, raised $3 million.
• The Pacesetter Campaign, which is held in early spring, raised almost $2.5 million

The efforts of local companies and their employees will be more formally recognized during a Campaign Celebration event on June 22 at the Hyatt.

Also today, United Way formally announced Jonathan J. Judge, President and CEO of Paychex, will be the 2008 United Way Campaign Chair.

“When I joined Paychex and moved to Rochester, I quickly learned just how caring the people of this community are,” said Jonathan J. Judge, Paychex President and CEO, and Chair of the 2008 United Way/Red Cross Campaign. “I am a real believer that the best way to help the most people is through United Way, and as a long-time supporter of this terrific organization, I am proud to chair the 2008 campaign.”

United Way funds programs that fall within three primary donor interest areas: Student Readiness & Success, Strengthening People & Families, and Supporting People in Crisis. For more information on how your gift is put to work every day of the year, visit www.uwrochester.org.



United Way’s mission is to magnify and focus the power of community resources to address our most pressing social needs.