Meet the...
Campaign Volunteer of the Year Finalists

Our 16 award finalists ran exceptional campaigns. Stop back for daily snapshots of what made each them special. 

WINNER: Christine A. Chiesa
Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC.
2009 marks Chris’s 15th year running this United Way campaign!
•
 She uses e-pledge, which allows her coworkers to pledge securely online, making paper pledge forms a thing of the past, and allowing her to track giving trends. chris
•
 When employees are back at their desks after campaign meetings, the e-pledge invite email is already waiting in their inbox – with targeted reminder emails to follow if they forget to make the pledge.
•
 The campaign has increased by more than $25,000 since 2002.

Thanks for the years of dedication and outstanding results, Chris!

spacer

 

Anne Baggett, Rebecca Streib, Margaret Galarneau
East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District
This team focused on getting United Way’s message to more employees
•
 With the blessing of schools Superintendent Donna DeSiato, this team began holding brief campaign meetings during monthly staff meetings at each school.
•
 They made sure everyone got a pledge card and a thanks when they turned in their pledges.
•
 The campaign increased by more than $2,000, and they’re already planning to increase their efforts next year.

Thanks for the great job in 2009!

spacer

 

Tricia Rae Davis
Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways
Tricia Rae’s campaign was both fun and educational
•
 Tricia Rae built excitement for the campaign by participating in Walk the Talk and Kickoff Cookoff, where the Girl Scouts’ Samoa Sweet Roles were a huge hit.
•
 She held United Way breakfasts with speakers at three branches and used e-pledge to streamline giving for employees spread across Central New York
•
 The results? A campaign increase of $5,118.

Thanks for your effort in 2009, Tricia Rae!

spacer

 

Pat Beck
Child Care Solutions of Central New York
Pat’s campaign was chock full of fun activities
•
 The campaign kicked off with a picnic in the parking lot with great food and an agency speaker
•
 From there, a full calendar of activities included a bake sale, an auction, and a raffle, with many chances for empl0yees to win fun prizes.
•
 Pat was able to achieve a 100% participation rate in giving!

Thanks for the outstanding job, Pat!

spacer

 

John Popkess and Elizabeth Kompf
Alliance Bank, N.A.
Elizabeth and John’s campaign saw a huge increase in 2009
•
 This duo does an excellent job getting United Way’s message to their coworkers.
•
 Elizabeth and John use United Way’s pledge forms and hang United Way’s posters around the office to increase visibility of the campaign.
•
 Their 2009 campaign increased by $5,000 and they had two new Leadership donors!

Thanks for the great job in 2009!

spacer

 

Howard Timbers
The Salvation Army, Syracuse Area Services
Howard used the economy to inspire employees to be generous.
•
 Even though salaries were frozen in 2009, Howard reminded his coworkers that many others are not lucky enough to have steady work.
•
 He made the campaign fun with special events like a bake sale with proceeds benefiting United Way, and even a Family Feud-style trivia contest.
•
 Understanding the increased need in the community due to the work they do every day, employees responded generously.

Thanks for your dedication to the cause, Howard!

spacer

 

Mark de la Rosa
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Mark made the campaign fun and successful in a tough economic year.
•
 Mark made sure all his coworkers got United Way’s message at campaign presentations, even though the meetings halted production.
•
 He upped enthusiasm by organizing an employee kickball game for United Way, which was hugely popular.
•
 And even with fewer employees in 2009, the campaign’s results were fantastic.

Thanks for the outstanding job, Mark!

spacer

 

Holly Heinze-Coolican
Raymour & Flanigan Furniture
Holly stepped up the campaign in 2009, and it paid off!
•
 Holly spearheaded a coordinated effort to reach more of Raymour & Flanigan’s employees with United Way’s message. holly
•
 United Way agency speakers visited each of the company’s retail stores.
•
 After hearing the message, many of Raymour & Flanigan’s employees either started giving or increased their pledges.

Thanks for your leadership in 2009, Holly!

spacer

 

 

Joanne Sawmiller
Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society
Joanne’s campaign is full of enthusiasm and creativity.
•
 Each year, Joanne and team select a fun, creative theme – in 2009, Mardis Gras, and the organization’s conference room was transformed into Bourbon Street. joanne
•
 Joanne educated her coworkers by quizzing them on United Way and United Way agencies for a chance to win prizes.
•
 With steady increases each year, the campaign has grown by more than 60% in the past four years.

Thanks for the years of dedication and hard work, Joanne!

spacer

 

Meet the Finalist: Anita Cannistra
NYS Teamsters Health and Pension Fund
This longtime ECC is retiring after years of campaign success.
•
 After years of hard work, Anita’s campaign runs on autopilot – her coworkers know what United Way is all about, and they respond generously. anita
•
 Anita inspires generosity by offering coworkers an hour off work for every dollar they pledge – a hugely successful incentive.
•
 And even with fewer employees in a tough economic year, the campaign was once again a huge success.

Thanks for your service and congratulations on your retirement, Anita!

spacer

 

Mary Walker
Dupli Envelope and Graphics
Mary made respect the keystone of Dupli’s United Way campaign.
•
 When planning the campaign, Mary  tried to put herself in the position of her coworkers. “I asked myself how I’d like to be treated,” she said. walker
•
 Everyone heard from agency speakers, got a free lunch, and the sooner they turned in pledge forms, the more chances they got to win donated prizes – think internal Step Up Challenge.
•
 By making her coworkers feel comfortable and respected, she inspired even more generosity.

Thanks for the stellar job in 2009, Mary!

spacer

 

Stephanie Shea
UPS
Stephanie accomplished a lot in a tough year.
•
 She got United Way’s message to all her coworkers by way of campaign meetings with United Way agency speakers. stephanie
•
 She made the campaign fun by organizing a golf tournament on United Way’s behalf, as well as other fun activities.
•
 Despite having fewer workers, Stephanie and her team still managed to raise more in 2009.

Thanks for the outstanding effort, Stephanie!

spacer
 

Fran Falkowski
Bright House Networks
Fran’s campaign results: Six straight years of 100% participation
•
 Fran’s philosophy as an ECC: Every little bit counts. She encourages her coworkers to give just a dollar or two to start. fran
•
 From there, year after year, she encourages them to grow their pledges gradually, and to be a part of the culture of giving at Bright House Networks.
•
 The results speak for themselves: 100% participation for six years running.
spacer

Thanks for the outstanding job in 2009, Fran!

 

Josie Rurka and Cindy Livingston
Community Bank System, Inc.
Cindy and Josie’s message: Now is the time to step up.
•
 With more than 15 years combined experience running United Way campaigns, this duo included easy, fun promotions like jeans days and a spare change jar in the lunchroom. cindy
•
 With coworkers in multiple offices, they helped educate everyone about United Way’s mission by emailing United Way’s e-postcards.
•
 And they inspired coworkers to give by reminding them of increased needs in the community during the economic downturn.
spacer

Thanks for the years of service and the great job in 2009!

Melissa LaCroix
CFC/Transportation Security Administration
Melissa makes her campaign personal by sharing her own experiences.
 melissa
•
 During last year’s CFC campaign meetings, she shared her own experiences as a teen mom and talked about the agencies that helped her along the way.
•
 Many of her coworkers were surprised to hear about her past, and came away with a different perspective on what it means to be in need.
•
 Melissa wrapped up her campaign with personal thank-you notes that let donors feel her genuine appreciation.spacer
Thanks for having the courage to share your story, Melissa!

Wendy Osborne
SEFA/SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
Wendy's SEFA campaign was educational, fun and unique.
•
 Last year, she used United Way's e-postcards to educate her coworkers about issues in our community.
•
 She made her campaign fun with special events and weekly prize-drawings, where staff could win gift certificates to local restaurants and coffee shops.
•
 Her "Taste of ESF" event was a huge hit. Moonlighting as chefs, staff donated entrees for an crowd of 200, and a co-worker helped set the mood by donating his violin skills.

Thanks for the outstanding job, Wendy!

 

 
 
   
COPYRIGHT 2010, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
518 James St., P.O. Box 2129, Syracuse, NY 13220 :: Phone: 315-428-2211 :: Fax: 315-428-2227 :: Contact Us