The 2016 United Way campaign kicks off at Yale New Haven this month with an appeal to employees from President Richard D'Aquila to consider supporting the drive. This year's campaign runs through Dec. 31.
YNHH has been a longtime United Way supporter, and this year's campaign chairpersons, Andrew Orefice, program coordinator, Community and Government Relations; Kathleen Bruenn, manager, Laboratory Medicine; and Lynda Pasquarella, executive secretary, Administration, have been hard at work planning.
The United Way of Greater New Haven supports local service agencies that focus attention and resources to ensure, among other initiatives, that children are educated and families are stable and secure. Contributions to United Way are disbursed to its member agencies, which fund programs that directly help children and families throughout the 12-town Greater New Haven region. For instance, donating $5 a week for a year to United Way provides 10 families dinner for 10 days; $10 a week provides a security deposit for an apartment for a homeless family; $25 a week provides literacy coaching and books for children; and $50 per week provides a student with after-school programs.
"Because of hospital employees' generosity over the years, contributions through our United Way campaigns are strengthening our communities," said Michael Holmes, senior vice president, Operations and chief integration officer, a United Way board member and this year's administrative chairman of the YNHH campaign. "Last year, Yale New Haven employees contributed nearly a quarter of a million dollars and this year, we are working to break that record, with even higher donations and greater participation."
For this year's campaign, employees with new pledges of $100 or more per year to the United Way and existing donors who increase their contribution by $100 or more will be entered in a drawing for prizes. Employees may contribute in different ways:
- Pledge through Employee Self Service (if you are currently a donor and do not make changes, your pledge remains the same). Donate through payroll deduction or print the form to make a one-time donation. Donations will be effective Jan. 1, 2016.
- Complete a form and pay with cash, check or major credit card at one of the YNHH United Way information fairs.
Visit the United Way information fairs to learn how even a small contribution can help in big ways. Fairs will be 10:30 am -1 pm, Monday, Oct. 12, Saint Raphael Campus Cafeteria and Tuesday, Oct. 13, East Pavilion Cafeteria entrance, York Street Campus.
