UWNEMN PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Kicking off the 50th
The big 5-0! No, no, it’s not my birthday. United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is kicking off their 50th campaign this fall. Fifty years of strengthening our communities – that’s something to celebrate. As I begin presiding over my first campaign in my tenure as UWNEMN Board President, I am so aware of how critical these funds are to the important work that United Way does. Without campaign contributions, we couldn’t feed hungry kids through Buddy Backpacks and we wouldn’t be able to send Imagination Library books to area children. Employee campaigns are starting, letters of request are going out, and phone calls asking for support are taking place.
This summer, I started working at Hibbing Taconite. We are gearing up for our internal United Way campaign. I feel fortunate to be working for another company where United Way is an ingrained tradition. Though the local economy is still down, I have faith that things will start to turn around and that my fellow coworkers are going to step up and support our communities through United Way like never before.
If your company does not currently hold a United Way campaign, I encourage you to contact the UWNEMN staff to your place of business to tell you their impact stories. No matter the size of the business – from one employee to thousands – the UW staff will conduct a campaign within your company and personally deliver the message of their work. The way this organization supports our communities is unparalleled. Uniting our donations is the best and easiest way to make a positive impact on the lives of our families, neighbors and friends. Celebrate United Way’s big 5-0 with us this year with a gift to support their amazing, local, critically important work.
Bruce Kingsley
2016-2017 United Way of Northeastern Minnesota Board President