Campaign Final Numbers

Here's the final report on the numbers for the Champlain College United Way Campaign

• We received 141 pledges totalling $29,495 - down $5,005 from our $35,000 goal
• Participation was at 40.28 percent - the goal was to have 53 percent. 

We also drew the final names  and cleaned out the prize closet,. The winners are:

• David Provost -$50 Bookstore certificate
• Catherine Bergeron Radoux – Night Strangers book
• Diana Agusta - $25 at the Bearded Frog
• Rebecca Peterson - $25 Amazon Card
• Leigh Bouffard – CC Sweatshirt
• Christine Hutchins – 3 tickets to Essex Cinema
• Karen Patno – Two Tickets to Essex Cinema
• Andrew Burkhardt – Two Tickets t Essex Cinema
• Deana Higgs – Sustain Champlain Water Bottle. 

Thanks to everyone who supported the Campaign with a pledge, a donation to the incentive prizes and to those who offered encouraging words along the way. 

Steve Mease and Chauncey T. Beaver - Co-chairs

And the Committee - Sarah Potter, Julie Richards and Melissa Hersh. 

One of my favorite sayings from a wise Jedi knight  found in the Emergent Media Center. 

Campaign to Close Today

To the Champlain Community:

Chauncey and I have some good news and some not-so-good news to report about the Champlain College United Way Campaign.

First, we have raised $28,715 and we have about 40 percent of the 350 employees participating. That’s an average gift of $205. That’s the good news and we deeply thank those who have already given so generously. The not-so-good news is that our goal is $35,000 with 53 percent participation.

We’ve tried many ways of getting the word out, plenty of email reminders and even puppy pictures, but we are still considerably off the mark on meeting our goal this year. Anyone who has ever asked for money knows it can be awkward and a little uncomfortable, but you do it anyway for a good cause you believe in. However, when a fundraising effort struggles in the final stretch to meet its goal, it is hard to pinpoint the reason.

Here’s a few reasons Chauncey and I have come up with:

1. People are busy and just haven’t taken action on their good intentions. The pledge card is sitting under a pile of papers on their desk.

2. People are feeling overwhelmed. Maybe it is the economy making things tight all around and many people can’t quite give at their previous level. Or perhaps they can’t give at all.

3. People are already giving to specific causes. Vermonters were extremely generous in contributing to help those hit by flooding in the spring and tropical storm Irene in August. There are hundreds of organizations and causes asking for help, especially this time of year.

4. Some of Champlain’s longtime givers to United Way have recently retired or moved on to other opportunities.

5. Perhaps Chauncey and I haven’t done a great job in educating people about the many needs in our community and how a gift to United Way has a multiplier effect expanding giving through careful management and oversight of programs receiving funding. We have already vowed to do it better next year and are crafting some new strategies and ways to say thanks to those who give.

Lots of possible reasons, but we both agreed it is not that Champlainers don’t care. We see Champlain’s generous nature every day – The Staff Council set a new blood drive record a couple weeks ago and programs like DREAM and other community outreach programs earn support from staff, faculty and students alike. Campus food drives, students helping to rebuild flood-damaged homes and efforts like CSCE’s Tent City next week reinforce the College’s core values of encouraging community service and civic engagement.

So the Campaign will officially come to a close on Friday, Nov. 11. And we will probably not meet the goal this year. That’s an unusual occurrence at Champlain. My experience is if we say we are going to do something, we do it. We did it last year and beat the goal.

If you have been meaning to give, either through payroll deduction which begins in January or with a one-time tax deductible gift, now would be the time to take action. There is $6,285 left to raise – 62 people giving $100 each could do it or 124 people giving $50 or… well, you get the idea.

If you have already given, but would like to help close the gap with an additional gift, we would be most grateful.

Nothing would please Chauncey and I more than being able to report back to you that a surprise last-minute surge of giving brought us to the goal.

A downloadable pledge card is available at http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/. You can drop it off with Steve Mease at Lakeside or with Julie Richards at Perry 322.

Making a pledge could mean all the difference to families, children and others who need the services and help provided through the United Way programs. As the slogan says, “Give. Advocate. Volunteer. Live United” Today, the emphasis is on the “Give.”

Thank you for your kind attention and support!

NOTE: The winner of the campus parking pass is Peter Straube. The remainder of the incentive prizes will be drawn and announced Friday afternoon.

Goal Updates

Since we extended the end date of the United Way Campaign, we have had a decent bump in the numbers from Monday.

• We have 35% participation - the goal is 53% - so we still have a ways to go there. 
• We have raised $27,139, or 77% of the way to our $35,000 goal. It's getting closer. 

There is still time to make your pledge or one-time donation. Download your pledge card from the link at the left top of this page. 
I know we can reach the goal - it only take a couple minutes to fill out the pledge. There many ways to donate:

• Personal Check
• Cash
• Bill on a certain date
• Gift of securities or stock (You will need to talk with United Way after you turn in the pledge) 
• Credit Card

Or best of all...
Payroll Deduction - the best way to give on an ongoing basis. 

Prizes Available as Campaign Ends

These prizes will be drawn on Monday morning. Everyone who gets their pledge card in by Friday at 5 p.m. will be eligible for the drawing. 

Prizes still available to be drawn:

• A 2012 SPRING SEMESTER ALL-ZONE PARKING PASS
   (Donated by Champlain College Campus Security)
• A $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD (donated by Stephen Mease)
• A $50 CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE BOOKSTORE Gift Card (Donated by the Bookstore)
• AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF "THE NIGHT STRANGERS" by Lincoln, Vt. author Chris Bohjalian. Hot-off-the-press (donated by Pat Boera)
• $25 at the Bearded Frog in Shelburne, (donated by Spruce Mortgage) 
• Several passes to Essex Cinema
• Sustain Champlain water bottles (donated by Sustain Champlain)
  
  You have to be in it to win it! 

Blood drive A success

Thanks to everyone who stepped to meet and beat Jen Perlee's goal of 102 pints of blood donated at the Champlain College Staff Council fall blood drive. It was the best ever, she said. 

• 128 presenting donors
• 52 First timers (up by 20 from last year)
• 102 Pints of blood collected (beating last year by 1!)
• Up to 306 lives we helped!

Thanks to everyone that donated their blood, sweat, and maybe even some tears. J

 Our students were awesome yesterday with some walk-ins waiting over 1.5 hours to donate. Thanks again till next year…when I’ll be back to beg for your blood again!

If you missed the drive don’t forget you can always to the center:

32 North Prospect Street
Burlington, VT 05401

800-RED-CROSS to make an appt.

Werewolves and Where's your Pledge?

Chauncey and I have been talking about what it will take to get about 80 more people to make a pledge, sign up for payroll deduction or make a one-time gift to the United Way of Chittenden County, another United Way in Vermont or a specific agency.

We’ve tried puppies, heart-wrenching stories, even conjured up signs of nature that you should give to United Way.
We’ve enticed you with incentives like an iPad, vacation money, and gift certificates. We’re down to scare tactics as Halloween approaches. (see above)

We even tried actually talking about the real needs in our community and how if everyone would just give a little, we could do so much more together than alone.

It’s difficult to figure out what motivates people to give to one cause and ignore another. Personal preference or connections play such a major role in our giving habits – if you have experienced hardship or know someone who has, you are probably more likely to give to help a homeless family or donate clothes to a winter jacket collection.

If you have children at home that have never experienced hunger or the ache of going to bed with an empty belly, then I bet you might be more likely to donate to the food drives just because you are grateful for your situation and can’t imagine what that must be like for a parent forced to choose between heat and food for their family.

Maybe you have taken care of an aging parent or family member and were relieved by help from a Visiting Nurse or the caring people at Respite House. I know you would help them if they asked directly. Who wouldn’t?

You don’t have to look very far these days to see someone in need. We’ve all seen the power of working together in the weeks following tropical storm Irene. Roads are back, people are returning to their homes, businesses are coming back to life. That all happened because of a cooperative effort. We can’t all be Phish or Grace Potter and raise thousands of dollars on talent and goodwill. But because everyone gave a little something to help in the face of great need for Vermont – time, energy, material goods or money, we are getting through it.  

United Way is a cooperative effort that makes sure people who need food get it;  kids and families who need shelter have a place to go; and seniors get to stay in their homes and be independent for as long as possible.  It happens because of your gift to United Way. It’s your choice to participate. Chauncey and I don’t know who gives or who doesn’t. If you look at your own situation and decide that you can share some of your good fortune with others that would be great. It’s my experience that often times it is those with limited resources who dig the deepest to help another person.

In theory, we were planning to end the Champlain Campaign tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 26, but it looks like we are going to have to extend it a few more days unless $11,500 shows up overnight or 80 people suddenly turn in their pledge cards by the end of the day.

Here’s where we stand at the moment - 112 pledges totaling $23,679  which is 32% participation.  

But don’t think Chauncey and I are discouraged. We know some of you have been meaning to do it and just got busy. Or you lost your pledge card. Or you are new to the area and no has taken the time to explain that we have a great United Way that maximizes your gifts for the best results. They raised $4 million last year and hope to do it again this year. And the overall needs are greater this year.

We still have some great prizes to give away if that motivates you to give, but deep down Chauncey and I are hoping you will do it because it really makes all of our lives better if we help one another through the hard times of life.

Thank you for your support and for reading all the way to the end!

And if you have already given, thank you again for getting us this far.

Blood Drive Wednesday

Focus on the Need - And Give

Dear Champlainers,

As you know, Chauncey T. Beaver is co-chair of this United Way Campaign, and he is usually content to be the face of the campaign, lending his loveable mug to the posters. Most days, he’s pretty soft spoken, if he says anything at all, and leaves the day-to-day United Way Campaign details and blog updates to me and others on the committee.

But after reading the last couple emails, he pulled me aside yesterday afternoon and said, “Dam it, Steve! I think you are missing the point of why people need to give to United Way. It’s not for the incentive prizes - which are nice and all - but Champlainers need to understand the real needs of the many, especially the little kids, hard-working families and struggling seniors who could use a helping hand.”

Clearly, from the expression on his usually adorable fuzzy face, he was agitated.

He continued, “It’s been a hard year for a lot of people. The economy is flat, people can’t find jobs, their bills are looming and we’ve endured a flood, earthquake and a hurricane this year. All those community needs that were there before all that happened, are still there and in many case, even greater. Times are hard!”

He leaned in, looked me hard in the eyes and it suddenly felt like he was about to poke me in the chest with his paw.

“So, (clearly pausing for emphasis) you need to start reminding people that a gift to United Way makes a huge impact,” he said, leaning in even closer. He pulled out a folded sheet of paper from his pocket (Who knew he had pockets since he rarely wears pants?) with some important numbers and descriptions of what a modest payroll deduction could accomplish over a year. He put in my hand with decided emphasis.

“You know, Champlainers should give at a level that feels comfortable for them. There’s a lot of new faces at Champlain this fall, and some of those folks are new to the area. They might not realize how great our United Way is and how many thousands of people they help every year. Start talking about that,” Chauncey said, actually poking me in the chest a little. He turned quickly, his enormous tail slapped my thighs and he was gone, headed off to the Student Life offices to meet with the SGA about funding or Facebook.

Then he turned and shouted, “I want thank all those people who have already given, but they can still help by encouraging their co-workers who haven’t given yet to make their pledge today!”

Standing there - a bit stunned and rubbing my bruised thigh - I thought, “He’s right you know, just because you have a chance to win a rocking chair or one of my framed Vermont photos, that’s not the real reason you should give to United Way. The real reason is because it is the right thing to do and it makes people’s lives better.”

Here’s what was on the paper Chauncey handed me…
Here are just a few examples of how you can make a difference in your community by investing in United Way:(assumes you get paid every two weeks)

• $2 per pay period ($52 per year) helps one elderly or disabled person with two specialized transportation trips to medical treatment such as dialysis or radiation.

• $5 per pay period ($130 per year) provides one teen with participation in leadership skill development through positive social and recreational activities that will keep him/her off the street.

• $10 per pay period ($260 per year) helps 63 low-income seniors receive a nutritious meal in a social setting which helps prevent malnutrition and isolation.

• $12 per pay period ($312 per year) provides 7 days of preschool care for children who will learn English as a second language and develop skills for a positive school experience in the American culture.

• $20 per pay period ($520 per year) helps one youth with academic, physical and emotional needs spend 10 hours with his/her mentor.

• $30 per pay period ($780 per year) provides one low-income child with over 200 hours of affordable and quality childcare that will help prepare him/her to succeed in school academically and socially.

• $40 per pay period ($1,040 per year) helps 8 adults with acute and long-term illnesses receive a professional home health care visit, including physical therapy, nutrition, and psychiatric services; OR provides one individual with services to help them remain a substance-free and productive member of our community.

Spell out the Needs of the Many

A Little Inspiration - 10/18

As I arrived at Lakeside this morning, I heard the familiar sounds of honking – only it was in the sky and not at Cumberland Farms. Looking up, I witnessed what can only be termed a true sign of the season – the geese flying over were trying to spell out the word “GIVE” but there were only enough of them to form a “V.”

Of course, since I’m co-chairing the United Way Campaign at Champlain again this year, it immediately reminded me of the need for everyone to pitch in and help – whether as an advocate, a volunteer or a supporter. Ideally, we are all able to do a little of all three over the course of a year. If everyone contributes, we can accomplish so much more together.

So right now, it would be great if you could help us buy a few more letters and “GIVE” to United Way – either with a one-time gift or by signing up for payroll deduction.

By now you should have received a pledge card in your mailbox or figured out that you can easily download one from the Campaign blog. http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/

Champlain College has what feels like an ambitious goal this year – raising $35,000 and reaching the 53% participation mark.

Both are significantly up from last year’s accomplishments – which is the “Champlain Way.” We are about halfway there (you can get the full details at the Blog http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/ )

Please turn in your pledge card by Wednesday at 5 p.m. and you will be entered to win a brand-new Kennedy-style rocker, donated by Spruce Mortgage or have a framed 12x18 Vermont scenic photo by Steve Mease hanging on your wall. Send it to Julie Richards, 322 Perry or to Steve Mease Box 5 in Marketing at Lakeside.

The migrating geese this morning also served as a stark reminder that winter is on the way – a cold, hard winter for those in need of help. You can make a difference with your gift to United Way. Your gift will help advance the common good and help United Way member agencies support services in the areas of Education, Income and Health – the basic building blocks for a good quality of life for everyone.

Your gift is the one that can make a difference to someone in need.

Pledge Incentive Winners

The results of the Incentive Raffle for the first week of the United Way Campaign are in.

As of Friday at 5 p.m., (or today as of noon) we have raised $16,645 toward our overall goal of $35,000. We are also just about halfway there on participation with 27 percent towards the goal of 53 percent of the faculty and staff.

The winner of the $200 Travel Certificate courtesy of Child Travel is Julia Caminiti.

The winner of two tickets to Lyric Theatre Company's fall production of "Hairspray" on Nov. 10-13, donated by Pat Boera of Career Services Office is Michelle Miller.

The next drawing will be Wednesday, Oct. 19. So your job is to fill out your pledge card (you can download it here if you want) and get it over to Julie Richards, 322 Perry Hall, by 5 p.m. on Wednesday to be eligible. You can also drop it off with Steve Mease in Marketing (second floor) at Lakeside.You can see the full list of remaining incentive prizes, including a couple new ones at

http://champlainunitedway.blogspot.com/p/incentive-prizes.html

Up for grabs on Wednesday:

KENNEDY ROCKING CHAIR (donated by Spruce Mortgage) You can see it at 322 Perry.

A FRAMED 12x18 VERMONT SCENIC PHOTOGRAPH. Winner will have a choice of three photos. (donated by Stephen Mease)

Looking to Volunteer?

Here is the Winter/Holiday

Edition of the Ways of Caring, United Way's publication which features short-term &special event volunteer opportunities.

This edition features volunteer opportunities for November & December 2011 & January 2012 including Adopt-A-Family programs, holiday events, gift wrapping, and much more.

Click here to open the document.

If you would like a hard-copy of this publication, please email laurie@unitedwaycc.org with your name and mailing address.

Just go to www.unitedwaycc.org and click the "Volunteer Now" box to see the more than 300 volunteer opportunities in Chittenden, Remember that new volunteer listings are posted every day in our online listings, Franklin and Grand Isle counties and click Volunteer.

As we head into the end of the first week of the Campaign the pledge card packets to those who haven't turned in their completed form will be in campus mail today. It will include a pledge form, some information on United Way's work and is your ticket to being entered into Friday's drawing for a $200 Travel Certificate courtesy of Child Travel!

And to make things a little more interesting, we'll also be drawing the winner of two tickets to Lyric Theatre Company's fall production of "Hairspray" on Nov. 10-13, donated by Pat Boera.

So you job now is to fill out your pledge card (you can download it here if you want) and get it over to Julie Richards, 322 Perry Hall, by 5 p.m. on Friday to be eligible.

Our iPad Winner announced!

Well, the Champlain College United Way Campaign got off to a strong start with a visit from United Way Executive Director Martha Maksym at Town Meeting. She especially thrilled to have her photo taken with campaign co-chair, Chauncey T. Beaver.

The results from the opening day of the Campaign -

We received 80 pledges for a total of $10,885,

giving us a participation rate of 22.85 percent.

Everyone who turned in their pledge card by 5 p.m. Friday was eligible for the first inicentive drawing...... and the winner of the iPad, donated by the Information Systems Department -

Susan Paquette Sr. IT Analyst, Administrative Systems.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone for getting their pledges in early.

Still, we have a ways to go to reach our goals of 53 percent participation and raising $35,000,

so we are holding another incentive raffle this Friday for the

$200 TRAVEL GIFT CERTIFICATE

(donated by Child Travel Services)

Get your pledge in early to be qualified for all the incentive prizes during the campaign. ( you can see them all by clicking the tab above.

Send your pledges to Julie Richards, 322 Perry by Friday at 5 p.m. to be eligible.

2011 Campaign Begins Oct. 7

Dear Champlainers,

The 2011 Champlain College United Way Campaign begins Friday, Oct. 7 at the Town Meeting at 8:15 a.m.

We set an ambitious goal of $35,000 and a participation rate of 53 percent because the needs continue to grow for so many in our community. This year, many people are struggling to recover from tropical storm Irene which disrupted people’s lives, homes and businesses. The impact on human and social services in Chittenden County and our neighbors is magnified this year.

Chauncey T. Beaver and I are back for a second year co-chairing the Champlain College United Way campaign for one simple reason – we are confident that you will step up and help us meet the ambitious goals.

This year’s theme is “Let’s Give a Dam and Help Others.”

Your donations last year through the Champlain College United Way of Chittenden County campaign helped our local United Way reach its $4 million Community Fund goal.

We raised $31,000 with just under half of you participating. It was one of the many tangible ways Champlain faculty, staff and students demonstrated their giving spirit. It happens at campus blood drives; taking a pie in the face to help DREAM mentoring; sleeping out on Aiken Lawn during Tent City’s homeless awareness campaign in November, or volunteering countless hours to help children, the elderly and those in greatest need in Vermont.

Everyone is busy this fall, so with your help, we plan to squeeze the campus campaign into a couple short weeks. The biggest step toward success is if you turn in your completed pledge form on the first day of the campaign. One benefit is you’ll be qualified for all the best prizes.

Like last year, the best prizes and incentives will be offered early in the campaign.

Pledge packets will be available Friday morning at Alumni Auditorium at Town Meeting. Everyone who turns in a completed pledge form by 5 p.m. that day will be eligible for the drawing to win an iPad, generously donated by the Information Services Department. The winner will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 11 on the Champlain United Way Campaign blog.

Can’t make Friday’s Town Hall meeting? Download the pledge form from the blog and send it in to Julie Richards Box #11 or drop off at Perry Hall room 322 or with Steve Mease at Lakeside (second floor) by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7 and you will be entered in the iPad drawing. Be sure to keep a copy of the form for your tax records.

Please consider a gift through payroll deduction. It’s the easiest way to give a little more than you might if you just wrote one check. Remember, you also have the option to designate your gift to the Community Care Fund, specific impact areas, another United Way, or a specific United Way agency.

Your gift makes a real difference to those in need. Thank you for your generous support!

Steve and Chauncey