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HOW UNITED WAY Tom Donahue, General Manager and Director of Food and
USES YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS Beverage at Shula’s Steak House and this year’s Campaign Chair,
notes that “In short, the mission of United Way of Collier County
Do you know where your United Way contribution goes? Who is to advance the common good by focusing on the building blocks
in our community benefits? What kinds of services are available? for a good quality of life – education, income, health, and safety
net services.”
The answers may surprise you: approximately one third of
residents of Collier County – more than 108,000 people – receive For more information about how to participate in this year’s
support from United Way of Collier County each year. That support Community Campaign, either as a company or as an individual,
can come in many different forms, and anyone in our community call Elizabeth Morano, Vice President of Resource Development, at
may at some time receive help from a United Way Partner Agency 239.261.7112 ext. 204 or email her at elizabeth.morano@uwcollier.
or from a program run directly by United Way.The organization’s 33 org. You can also contribute to the campaign online at www.
partner agencies provide a wide range of services: affordable child uwcollier.org, or you can mail a check to United Way of Collier
care, health care, food banks, after school programs, legal assistance, County, 9015 Strada Stell Court, Suite 204, Naples, FL 34109.
assistance for those with disabilities or debilitating illnesses, and
many others. SUPPORT US
Many who receive assistance are employees of local businesses, 2014-15 Exceptional
or the families of those employees. They struggle to make ends meet Workplace Campaigns:
in spite of having a job; when they need help with meeting the basic
needs of their families, United Way is there to help. • Publix employees in Collier County have pledged
a total of $565,448.32. Corporate matching funds
Steve Sanderson, President and CEO of United Way of Collier
County, notes that “We have always funded safety-net programs from Publix total $423,200, for a total contribution of
that over the years have been lifelines for many in our community. $988,648.32, which is a 4% increase over last year’s total.
Many families and individuals in our community face barriers
that they cannot control, and one financial emergency may be all • UPS giving this year is up by 22%, with employee
it takes to cause an already struggling family to slip into poverty. contributions of $21,046.48 and corporate matching
When we provide help when it is needed most, employers benefit
from reduced absenteeism and from having happier, more focused funds of $4,656.90, for a total of $25,703.38.
employees. Employees benefit because they are able to achieve a
more promising future – one in which they don’t just survive, but • Nordstrom has made significant contributions at
they thrive!” both the Waterside Shoppes store ($23,803.00)
and The Rack ($5,334.00).
In addition, United Way administers the Collier 211 Information
and Referral help line and website. Anyone who needs to find access
to services can call 211 or 239.263.4211 or go to www.collier211.org
at any time of the day or night for referral to services that provide
food, housing, medical care, child care, and more.
UNITED WAY PRESENTS PUBLIX EMPLOYEES WITH TOKENS OF APPRECIATION. COMMUNITY LEADERS GATHER TO ANNOUNCE 2014-15 CAMPAIGN KICK OFF.
Life in Naples | March 2015 59
