Together, we make our community strong

Published 9:00 pm Friday, September 23, 2005

Last week, United Way of Snohomish County officially kicked off its annual fundraising campaign, setting a goal of raising $10 million to invest in a wide variety of crucial human services in our community.

United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community – through the commitment of its volunteers, the strength of its partnerships, and the strategic investment of resources and charitable gifts.

I think it particularly appropriate that United Way’s fundraising drive began with the Day of Caring – a day when more than 1,000 volunteers spread throughout the community to literally dig in and help others.

As 2005 campaign chair, it’s my job and privilege to ask each of us to again dig in – this time into our pockets – to help United Way create real and lasting change in people’s lives here in our county.

For the next several months, employees in more than 650 workplaces in Snohomish County will be raising funds for the United Way campaign. This comes at a time when many in our community have already given generously to disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

I have found people in Snohomish County to be very generous. That’s good, because this campaign is not about giving “there” versus giving “here.” United Way is, has been and will continue to be on the ground helping in the communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina and in our own community.

When you give to United Way through the annual campaign, you support frontline relief agencies such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Volunteers of America. You also support more than 100 programs that improve people’s lives all year long here at home. Because you gave last year to United Way, those programs are able to help hundreds of “self-evacuees” from the hurricane affected areas who are now relocating to our communities.

United Way also funds critical, community-wide initiatives such as a volunteer center that connects people to ways they can help others. And United Way is leading the drive to bring 2-1-1 – the telephone helpline to connect people to services they need – to our community. The 2-1-1 helpline already has proven effective in disaster areas, and will begin operating in our community in February 2006.

Perhaps most importantly, United Way is working on long-term strategies to address the root causes for issues such as poverty and homelessness.

This year, in recognition of the great need for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, United Way is making it possible to donate a one-time extra payroll deduction through the annual campaign that goes straight to disaster relief.

The United Way campaign is already complete at my own company, Premera Blue Cross. Once again, I have been impressed with how this campaign can motivate and channel the generosity of our community, working through the simplicity of payroll deduction. I have seen it make a powerful difference in the lives our community and in our own employees.

I have grown to appreciate more and more the value that United Way adds to our community. That is why I ask your help in reaching the $10 million goal for kids, for families, and for all of Snohomish County.

How will we reach our goal? By working together, as we did for the Day of Caring. And by giving together, through our donations to United Way that work in our community all year long. Together we do more.

H.R. Brereton (Gubby) Barlow is the 2005 campaign chair for United Way of Snohomish County and CEO of Premera Blue Cross.