Monday, October 3, 2011

Join the Fun in the 2011 United Way Campaign!

The Agency’s United Way Planning Committee has many fun things planned for our annual United Way campaign! Heartland participates in this drive because the United Way serves families and students in our communities in ways that are complimentary to our vision and mission. It is one way for our employees to extend their reach by choosing to donate to worthy causes through the United Way.

The Agency’s United Way Goals for this year are the following:

• Raise $15,000 in two weeks

• Develop activities that allow every employee to join the fun

• Increase the number of Leadership Circle members


Like last year, we will provide staff with choices to direct donations to any of the local United Ways in the Heartland area. You may click on the links below to view each United Way’s programs.
United Way of Central Iowa (Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Warren counties)
United Way of Carroll (Audubon and Carroll counties)
United Way of Boone County
United Way of Jasper County
Marion County United Way (no materials available at this time)

United Way of Story County

Designated Office Staff

We will enlist the help of some regional staff to help support our campaign and collect our receipts and pledge forms. The following are our helpers:

Region 1 – Janet Steinkamp (Carroll) and Colleen Chalfant (Guthrie Center)
Region 2 – Angela Bosworth

Region 3 – Kathy Teigland (Indianola) and Annette DeRouchey (Knoxville)
Region 4 & Central Staff – Katie Streff

Region 5 – Sue Mostek

Region 6 – Mary Johnson

Region 7 – Donna Wagnor

Region 8 – Carrie Roose (Newton) and Jodi Capps (Clay Elementary)

Johnston Administration Center – Carolyn Jones

SCEP – Christina Allen


Going Casual for the Kids Day

We’ll kick off this year’s activities on October 10 with a “Going Casual for the Kids” Day. We raised almost $1200 through a similar activity last year, and we hope to raise even more this year. For a $5 contribution, you may wear jeans with either a local school district shirt (to support this year’s United Way Causal Day theme of “Casual for the Kids” we serve) or sport a Heartland-logo shirt or Heartland colors.


The designated staff listed above will collect your donation and provide you with a receipt. Please write a check for the $5 and put in the memo section of the check which United Way office you want the money to go to. If you do not designate a United Way office, your funds will be sent to the United Way of Central Iowa.


Pledge Your Continued Support

Pledge cards are an easy way to donate to the United Way. There are many options on how you can donate, but our staff members mainly prefer the pay deduction or one-time donation. It is important that if you choose to do a pay deduction, your total contribution is evenly divisible by 24 pay periods into whole dollar amounts. Remember that pay deduction pledges from last year’s drive continue to be in effect until December 31, 2011. Deductions for this year’s drive will start in January and continue through December. You may designate in the lower left-hand corner of the card where you want your donation to go.

Everyone who hands in a pledge card donation of any amount will receive a casual day sticker. Casual day stickers will be distributed after the pledge cards have been processed. There are two classes of contributors that we intend to promote in our campaign:

Loyal Contributors
Employees who donate a minimum of $3 per pay period or a $72 one-time donation will be entered in a drawing to win one of several prizes.

Leadership Circle
Employees who donate a minimum of $42 per pay period or a $1010 one-time donation will be formally recognized as a Leadership Circle donor and will also be entered in a drawing to win one of several prizes.

Prizes in the drawing include three United Way Days. Winners of a United Way Day may take time from work to give back to the community. Winners will then share their day’s experiences in a future HeartBeat issue.


Designated office staff will have pledge forms available October 10-21. When completed, give it back to the designated office staff person who will collect completed forms.


If for any reason you do not wish to donate to United Way, the Community Health Charities of Iowa and Iowa Shares are two other charity organizations in which you can donate. We are unable to do payroll deductions for these organizations at this time. If you choose to donate to these organizations, you can contact the agencies at the following:

Community Health Charities of Iowa (877) 517-6266

Iowa Shares (319) 338-1446


Online Auction

In the past couple of years, staff members have really enjoyed our United Way Online Auction. Make sure to join in the fun this year! Our Online Auction will kick off on October 17 and will close at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 21.


Each staff member will be able to donate items or go together with co-workers to submit a group item. (Please note: Private delivery arrangements must be made for items too large or heavy for Heartland van delivery.) Send a digital photo and short description of your item to the Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us. We ask that you keep items until the close of the auction.


Your participation in the Agency’s United Way events is voluntary. It is not the Agency’s intention to pressure any Heartland staff into donating. We have tried our best to make this year’s campaign events fun and enjoyable for staff. We hope that you find United Way as an easy way to reach out and help the communities we live in.

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