United Way Volunteers Announce Fundraising Goal
LOFTY GOAL: Luchador wrestlers and their trainer pose here with Mark Graham, TAUW president and CEO; Steve Capron, 2011 community investments co-chair; and Jim Bender, 2011 campaign chair after the exciting 2011 goal revelation.
KYLIE MCMAINS for GTR Newspapers
The Tulsa Area United Way volunteer Board of Directors has approved a goal of $24,556,573 for its 2011 fundraising campaign which officially kicks off Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. Jim Bender, senior vice president and general counsel for Williams and 2011 Campaign Chair, announced the goal following a meeting of the Board on June 21.
“As we prepare for this year’s campaign, we are both optimistic and realistic. There are plenty of opportunities in our sights. We have found that, as our economy continues to improve, the people and companies of Tulsa come through with generosity and giving spirits,” says Bender. “We feel this goal will provide our 61 partner agencies with the necessary resources to meet the increased need for critical services in the Tulsa area.”
Bender says the Campaign Cabinet has spent the past five months carefully assessing last year’s campaign, evaluating the economic climate while building a strong volunteer base. “In developing this year’s goal, we reviewed the state of the local economy and the willingness of our citizens to give, advocate and volunteer,” Bender says. “With our exceptional campaign team and the support of all of our communities, we will do our best to not only meet but hopefully exceed the $24,556,573 goal.”
“Nearly 150 volunteers have spent more than 5,000 hours over the past five months assessing the 61 partner agencies’ funding requests and determining the best investment strategy for the funds raised by the 2011 campaign,” says Dan Ellinor, senior executive vice president of Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. and 2011 board of directors chair. “This results in a recommendation that is then balanced by input from the Community Investments Steering Committee, the Campaign Cabinet and TAUW’s Board of Directors.”
“The Tulsa area is an immensely generous community and is made up of individuals and organizations with the inspiration to do something for others,” says Mark R. Graham, president and . “We are moving confidently toward the 2011 campaign season knowing that area companies and citizens will once again generously step forward to help improve the lives of their families, friends and neighbors through their gifts to the Tulsa Area United Way.”
For more information, call at 918-583-7171 or visit www.tauw.org.
Updated 08-02-2011
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