February 2, 2006

UNITED WAY OF LANCASTER COUNTY BREAKS RECORD – RAISES $10 MILLION
Local Individuals, Businesses and Volunteers Recognized at Thank You Celebration

Lancaster, PA (January 2, 2006) -In light of high gas prices, a flat economy and hurricane relief efforts, residents of Lancaster County easily could have said no when asked to support their local United Way this year. Instead, thousands of individuals and businesses again are helping to make our community a better place to live – and are breaking records in the process. At its annual Thank You Celebration, United Way officials announced that $10,000,301 was raised to support local health and human service programs – reaching the eight-figure mark for the first time. The previous record was last year’s total of $9,601,128.

Held at Liberty Place on Thursday evening, more than 400 community members joined Joe Del Tito, Chair of the 2005 campaign, to celebrate the milestone and mark the thirteenth consecutive year of increased giving. “When we began preparing for the campaign nearly 11 months ago, we knew it would be a challenge just to reach our goal,” says Del Tito. “But with the combined effort of our volunteers, philanthropic businesses and caring individuals, the Lancaster County community made breaking the $10 million mark possible.”

In addition to the 4.2% increase over last year, the United Way’s 2005 campaign was successful in other defined areas of giving. Workplace employee campaigns resulted in a 5.1% increase and corporate donations increased 2.4%. Additionally, leadership giving – households which contribute $1,000 or more – was up 20%.

While the total investment pledged to the community is an incredible achievement, United Way officials stressed that the evening’s celebration was in honor of the collective effort of the community. Spotlighting specific examples, several local companies and their employees were honored for their outstanding work during the 2005 campaign.

Lancaster General was presented with the Spirit of Lancaster Award, United Way’s highest tribute for company or organization-wide corporate community involvement. Lancaster General’s comprehensive marketing-communications plan included fun, incentives, and a leadership giving component reaching every employee on every shift at every location. Additionally, their coordinating committee succeeded in increasing their donors. The number of donors increased from 1,881 to 2,302. Overall, their campaign surpassed the stated goal of $300,000 by raising $308,279, a 15% increase.

Lancaster General also co-sponsored Day of Caring, the 2005 campaign video and United Way LINC’s Where to Call Guide – bringing its total monetary contribution to more than $350,000.

Charter Homes was honored with the Campaign Chair’s Award for demonstrating the use of innovative ideas that influence the campaign county-wide. Charter’s drive to build unique quality homes has made them Central Pennsylvania’s leading homebuilder. In 1997, that same entrepreneurial spirit started The House That Baxter Built, with Baxter the Bear created as the mascot for the project.

With the proceeds going to United Way, Charter Homes organized 47 vendors, partners and subcontractors to donate material and labor for the Baxter House. Now, eight years after the first house was built, more than $1 million have been donated to United Way due to this initiative. Additionally, United Way had limited success in reaching the home construction business prior to the first Baxter House. Today, it is a model in which numerous communities have adopted.

Jennifer Brommer of Fulton Bank was named Campaign Coordinator of the Year for increasing the bank’s number of donors and the amount of dollars raised. And this year’s effort at Fulton also hit a record high, 910 donors contributing $296,444. With approximately 1,130 employees in over 70 office locations, these successful results can only be achieved by an extremely committed and well organized individual. Brommer utilized model campaign techniques including the solicitation of new hires, Loaned Representative participation and leadership giving meetings to involve management.

And for the first time, United Way presented the Agency Commitment Award to an individual representing a United Way member or affiliate agency in recognition of their combined support of the campaign. The honor went to William V. Dunstan of the Visiting Nurse Association. Through Dunstan’s careful planning and participation, he increased the total dollars raised in the Nonprofit Division. Dunstan also took a leadership role in training agency representatives for their speaking engagements at various employee campaigns through the county. Additionally, he serves as the Vice Chair of the United Way Leadership Council.

For more information about the 2005 Campaign or to learn how you can get involved in 2006, please call (717) 394-0731 or visit www.uwlanc.org.