For United Way Capital Area’s annual Workplace Giving Campaigns, two dedicated volunteers help promote the importance of giving through the workplace by serving as Campaign Co-Chairs. This year’s Co-Chairs are Ben Bentzin, CEO of Interactive Health Technologies, Inc., and Jeff Thomas, Regional Vice President for H-E-B. They answered some questions about their role in the campaign in the second of this three-part series. Why do you give to UWCA? Jeff: It’s a wonderful organization that touches so many different needs in our community and I have a passion around many of these needs- education for one, especially early education. You can impact the life of a young child even prior to going into school and make a difference in their life forever. Right now, we’re putting a lot of time, energy and money into building literacy rates in the state of Texas and our chairman Charles Butt is very passionate about that, as I am. I also have a passion around the well-being and health of the people in our community. H-E-B is doing an awful lot to make sure we’re educating our partners about being healthy, taking better care of themselves and many of the organizations that UWCA touches connect to that. There’s so many different needs in our community that, if not for UWCA, would go unfilled, so that’s why I’m passionate about giving and supporting United Way. Why do you have a passion for improving the Austin community? Ben: When I’m out during campaign, I talk about […]
Read MoreCar Washing and Campaign
Michael Vivio, Publisher of the Austin American Statesman, talked about why getting involved and giving back to our community is so important to him and the employees of the newspaper. Thank you Austin American Statesman for your support throughout the year!
Read More3M Food Drive for Family Eldercare
Two groups of 3Mers in Austin have ensured that some neighbors in need will not go hungry this holiday season. Austin Plant and ESD both held food drives prior to Thanksgiving in an effort to feed low-income senior citizens and developmentally disabled people. After taking a break from its annual food drive last year, Austin Plant employees resumed this year with zeal. This year’s food drive benefited Family Eldercare, a non-profit agency that provides essential services for elders, adults with disabilities and those who care for them. Plant employees donated 1,171 pounds of food and $561 in HEB gift cards in just eight days. Considering that the plant employs approximately 100 people, the effort was phenomenal. Zelda Laitinen, plant representative, Austin HR, said plant employees were inspired to help Family Eldercare after hearing a presentation by Pat Anthony, a Family Eldercare staff member who spoke at the plant during the United Way campaign. Lonnie Morfin wheels a load of donated food through Austin Plant. “Many of our employees have elderly parents,” said Laitinen. “We wanted to learn more about elder-care services and resources, and at the same time help support Family Eldercare and our community.” Many of Family Eldercare’s clients survive on low incomes and don’t get enough to eat. The agency collects non-perishable food donations and distributes through a food pantry or delivers it to the homes of homebound clients. Gail Sulak, EAP professional for Austin Center and Austin Plant, is president of the Family Eldercare board of directors. […]
Read MoreAnother record breaking year for the H-E-B Central Texas United Way campaign
Many H-E-B leaders gathered at Central Market on North Lamar on October 23rd to celebrate another record breaking year for the H-E-B Central Texas United Way campaign — and boy, did they have a lot to celebrate! It seems that H-E-B’s passion, dedication, and generosity only continues to grow with our community. The employees (Partners) in the H-E-B Central Texas region donated over $750,000 to our community through their Fall 2007 United Way Campaign. This group photo was taken at a Recognition Lunch honoring the 75+ In-Store Coordinators who helped run the United Way Campaign across the region this year. We’d like to thank these hardworking coordinators and all the generous Partners who participated in the campaign for helping us Change Central Texas — for good.
Read MoreNordstrom's managers take a Pie in the Face for the community
Nordstrom’s annual United Way Campaign Rally was this past Saturday—October 5th. Before the store opened, staff gathered to enjoy breakfast, music, presentations from local non profit leaders in our community, and lots of FUN!! Nordstrom makes their community support efforts FUN by adding events like Denim Days (employees pay $5 to wear jeans/no tie to work along with a sticker showing their support of United Way), a silent auction, bake sales, and perhaps the most fun—a live Pie in the Face contest. Six managers put themselves on the line for charity as the entire staff gets to “bid” on the chance to watch a pie be thrown in the manager’s face. This auction isn’t your typical auction….staff does not bid back and forth against each other to win the pie—instead, staff works together adding all bids to get a total “price” that they will pay to watch the pie be thrown. Managers have the option to buy themselves out if the price is right (therefore encouraging more people to bid in the first place and provide more support for our community) This year’s pie in the face contest was the most exciting yet — it raised almost $2,000!! Many pies were thrown and laughter and applause filled the store as Nordstrom rallied behind our community. (For the right price, Cara agreed to take off her plastic poncho and take 2 pies at a time!! She raised an all-time high for most $$ raised for one manager.) Managers who sacrificed themselves […]
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