United Way/CHAD Campaigns Kick Off Throughout San Diego County

Download the February 2008 issue in PDF format

By Tim Galloway Director, Labor Participation

Fall traditionally is the busiest time of year for organized labor to show its support for the United Way/CHAD Campaign, but I want to remind everyone there are a number of workplace campaigns conducted in the spring at companies where our unions have strong representation.

Here are just a few of the upcoming campaigns in which we hope union members will step up to help raise money for the United Way/ CHAD Campaign: UCSD, A.O. Reed, University Mechanical, NASSCO, Coca Cola, Del Mar Union School District, Lakeside Union School District, La Mesa- Spring Valley School District, San Marcos Unified School District, and Santee School District.

The success of the spring campaign at United Way is really important to how much the organization is able to raise for the year.

Hopefully, union members who have donated to the United Way/ CHAD Campaign will not only give again this spring, but will consider increasing their gift so that we can help more people in need. For union members who have never contributed to the campaign, this would be a great time to start.

It’s a great time because you’ll be supporting “the new United Way.” Until two years ago, United Way traditionally raised millions of dollars from workers just like you, and distributed them to more than 100 non-profit organizations and charities. But United Way’s impact was watered down because the money was spread out among too many agencies.

That all changed when United Way shifted to a Community Impact model. United Way first studied what donors really want to do with their gifts, researched what the community’s real needs are, and came up with three focus areas where funding could create a measurable impact. The three areas are: Stopping Child Abuse and Neglect, Homeless Outreach and Prevention, and Promoting Financial Stability and Independence.

United Way is creating innovative new programs in all three of these areas. Just one example is Project SafeCare to address child abuse and neglect. It’s important because San Diego County has approximately 10,000 substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect each year, a level higher than the national average. In some areas of the county, the rate is triple the national average.

Project SafeCare uses planned activities training, home-safety training and teaching child health care skills to prevent child maltreatment. This approach to reducing the re-occurrence of child abuse and neglect has been successful in other communities around the United States.

In the months and years to come, United Way programs like this are going to transform lives across our region. The support of organized labor is critical to this effort. So when the United Way/CHAD Campaign comes to your company this spring, please take a few minutes to make a donation. It’s one of the easiest ways for you to make a real difference in your community.