Yale New Haven Hospital kicked off the 2017 United Way campaign Oct. 24 with an appeal to employees from President Richard D'Aquila to consider supporting the drive. Campaign chairs Kathleen Bruenn, manager, Laboratory Medicine, and Lynda Pasquarella, administrative assistant, HR Administration, have been hard at work planning the campaign.

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. YNHH has been a longtime United Way supporter.

"United Way of Greater New Haven brings people and organizations together to create solutions to the region's most pressing challenges in education, health and financial stability," said Michael Holmes, YNHH senior vice president, Operations, and chief integration officer, a United Way board member and administrative chairman of the YNHH United Way campaign.

Contributions to United Way are disbursed to its member agencies which, in turn, fund programs that directly help children and families in communities throughout the 12-town Greater New Haven region. For example, over the past two years, United Way and partners have housed nearly 200 chronically homeless people, assisted area schools with educational and after-school programs and helped children and adults facing trauma.

"Last year, employees contributed more nearly $222,000 through the hospital's campaign. Because of employees' generosity over the years, our contributions are strengthening our communities," Holmes said. "We strongly encourage employees to consider contributing to United Way this year."

Employees may contribute by making a pledge through Employee Self Service, where they may donate via payroll deduction or make a one-time donation. If you are currently a donor and do not make any changes, your pledge remains the same.

The deadline to contribute to the campaign is Dec. 31. Payroll deductions begin in January 2017.