Published: Sunday, September 7, 2008
GUEST COMMENTARY
Businesses should lead the way for United Way
As a business owner, I look for every possible competitive edge. Running a United Way campaign is one.
No, I really mean it.
The truth is I'd run a United Way campaign even if our community didn't need the money -- which it does, more than ever. Here's why: it builds morale and teamwork among my employees that you just can't buy. They feel great about giving back. They are energized. They are proud of themselves for making a difference, and I'm proud of them.
If you run a business and have never invited United Way in to make a campaign presentation, you're missing out.
I can understand why businesses hesitate. Some may feel uncomfortable about asking employees to sit through a presentation asking them for money. At Rodland Toyota/Scion, we make it clear that no employee is obligated to give, but we do ask employees to at least hear about how much their gift means to the hundreds of thousands of people that United Way and its partners serve. As it turns out, employees are very interested in their community and are very likely to contribute if they see a real need and how they can make a difference.
As owners and managers, part of our job is also to teach our employees to give back. When you run a campaign, your employees will learn about the community, its needs and how they can help. And they will respond. Last year, my company won the President's Award for best United Way campaign. A lot of people have congratulated me on that award, but my employees set their own goals, did the organizing and ran the meetings. I did my best to stay out of their way.
In challenging economic times, our community needs us more than ever. Calls to the 2-1-1 helpline are up 54 percent so far this year. Those of us lucky enough to be employed and have a roof over our heads need to step up. Those of us who run businesses should be leading the way.
This year, six businesses have stepped up in a way that employees will want to hear about. We're asking folks to give $1 per week or to increase their gift by $1 per week and then enter the United Way Car Sweepstakes. The winner gets a new car from his choice among six participating dealers: Brien Ford/Mitsubishi, Klein Honda, Performance Nissan-Kia, Pignataro Volkswagen, Saturn of Lynnwood and Rodland Toyota/Scion.
The 2008 United Way campaign begins Wednesday for more than 140,000 people employed in Snohomish County. That's great, except that there are about 260,000 people who work in this county. Yes, many are at small businesses, but businesses of every size should be involved in United Way.
United Way is not the only charity in Snohomish County, but it certainly is one of the most comprehensive. It funds 93 local nonprofit programs that people rely on every day. It leads or partners on initiatives that serve the whole community, such as the Volunteer Center, 2-1-1 and free tax preparation sites. Above all, it is focused on finding solutions to the underlying causes of our most urgent problems.
The success of the annual United Way campaign is important to our quality of life and a measure of the quality of our caring. I challenge businesses of every size to participate.
Buzz Rodland is owner and president of Rodland Toyota/Scion and the 2008 campaign chair for United Way of Snohomish County.
No, I really mean it.
The truth is I'd run a United Way campaign even if our community didn't need the money -- which it does, more than ever. Here's why: it builds morale and teamwork among my employees that you just can't buy. They feel great about giving back. They are energized. They are proud of themselves for making a difference, and I'm proud of them.
If you run a business and have never invited United Way in to make a campaign presentation, you're missing out.
I can understand why businesses hesitate. Some may feel uncomfortable about asking employees to sit through a presentation asking them for money. At Rodland Toyota/Scion, we make it clear that no employee is obligated to give, but we do ask employees to at least hear about how much their gift means to the hundreds of thousands of people that United Way and its partners serve. As it turns out, employees are very interested in their community and are very likely to contribute if they see a real need and how they can make a difference.
As owners and managers, part of our job is also to teach our employees to give back. When you run a campaign, your employees will learn about the community, its needs and how they can help. And they will respond. Last year, my company won the President's Award for best United Way campaign. A lot of people have congratulated me on that award, but my employees set their own goals, did the organizing and ran the meetings. I did my best to stay out of their way.
In challenging economic times, our community needs us more than ever. Calls to the 2-1-1 helpline are up 54 percent so far this year. Those of us lucky enough to be employed and have a roof over our heads need to step up. Those of us who run businesses should be leading the way.
This year, six businesses have stepped up in a way that employees will want to hear about. We're asking folks to give $1 per week or to increase their gift by $1 per week and then enter the United Way Car Sweepstakes. The winner gets a new car from his choice among six participating dealers: Brien Ford/Mitsubishi, Klein Honda, Performance Nissan-Kia, Pignataro Volkswagen, Saturn of Lynnwood and Rodland Toyota/Scion.
The 2008 United Way campaign begins Wednesday for more than 140,000 people employed in Snohomish County. That's great, except that there are about 260,000 people who work in this county. Yes, many are at small businesses, but businesses of every size should be involved in United Way.
United Way is not the only charity in Snohomish County, but it certainly is one of the most comprehensive. It funds 93 local nonprofit programs that people rely on every day. It leads or partners on initiatives that serve the whole community, such as the Volunteer Center, 2-1-1 and free tax preparation sites. Above all, it is focused on finding solutions to the underlying causes of our most urgent problems.
The success of the annual United Way campaign is important to our quality of life and a measure of the quality of our caring. I challenge businesses of every size to participate.
Buzz Rodland is owner and president of Rodland Toyota/Scion and the 2008 campaign chair for United Way of Snohomish County.
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