TAUW's Quarterly E-Newsletter                              Vol. 3, Issue 4 | December 2011

Annual Campaign Concludes at "Unite!"

TAUW Surpasses 2011 Goal
 

Wow!
 

That was the reaction of guests at "Unite!" when the Tulsa Area United Way announced it had raised $24,746,883 for its 61 partner agencies - $190,310 more than the original campaign goal.

The excitement was accompanied by laughter and tears as nine agency clients - the real faces of the United Way - walked onto the stage one by one, telling their stories and revealing this year's campaign total. The final two "digits" were TAUW President and CEO Mark Graham and his mother, who is currently receiving assistance from three United Way partner agencies.
 
The event, a celebration of the annual campaign's culmination, was held at the beautiful new Lorton Performance Center at the University of Tulsa.

"To surpass our goal during a period of economic sluggishness is a testament to the vast generosity of our community," Graham told guests. "The residents of the Tulsa area demonstrated their giving spirit and enduring support of the important work conducted by our partner agencies and the needs of their friends and neighbors."
 

The 2011 Campaign total displayed in lights on the BOK Tower.

During the event, more than a dozen key volunteer leaders, representing local companies, small businesses and foundations, reported the total amounts raised by their teams. Several hundred volunteers at companies and organizations across the Tulsa area, in addition to 22 loaned executives, led the United Way in completing the successful campaign.
 
"This year's campaign was truly a community-wide effort, with more than 1,500 companies and organizations participating, and over 50,000 individuals making contributions," said Jim Bender, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Williams, who served as Chairman of this year's TAUW Campaign Cabinet.
 

Becky Frank reports on TAUW's Women's Leadership Council at Unite!

Providing a boost to the campaign were a number of challenge grants, including the Leadership Challenge Grant of $250,000, issued by the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, in conjunction with an anonymous donor, matching all new and increased gifts by individuals of $500 or more. 
 

QuikTrip again issued a Small Business Challenge of $100,000, matching dollar-for-dollar all first-time gifts by small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

In addition, T.D. Williamson and an anonymous foundation offered two Alexis de Tocqueville Society challenge grants, encouraging new members to join the Tocqueville Society and current members to increase their level of support. 

Each of the challenge grants were "subscribed," or fulfilled by donors.
 

The University of Tulsa served as host of the event, opening the doors of its new Lorton Performance Center for the first time to an organization outside the university, and the Tulsa World was a major supporter.  

The Luchador-themed 2011 TAUW Employee Campaign raised $107,104.

Believing in the Cause

TAUW and Partner Agencies Know the Importance of Supporting the Campaign 
  

At the Tulsa Area United Way, we believe in what we do, and we know how to show it.
 
This year the TAUW Employee Campaign raised more than $107,000 for the overall 2011 Campaign. Through Jeans Fridays, Chick-fil-A lunches, our spectacular Silent Auction, and many other fun events and generous gifts, the TAUW Employee Campaign surpassed the goal of $93,155 by more than $13,000. 
 
However, TAUW is not alone. Our 61 partner agencies also know how to give back. All together the partner agencies raised approximately $800,000 toward the 2011 Campaign. 

Volunteers Needed for
Community Investments Panels

The Community Investments process is the hallmark of the Tulsa Area United Way. This important group of volunteers undergoes the research and legwork required to ensure that all dollars invested in our 61 partner agencies are put to the best possible use and address the primary needs in our community.

TAUW is currently in the process of recruiting volunteers for the 2012 panels. Volunteers for these panels should be willing to devote approximately 20 hours of time from January through May.  

To read more about the Community Investments process, click here. For more information about serving as a panelist, call Maxine Street at 918-295-6644.

Here's what a few returning panelists had to say about their experience:

"[Panel members] will receive a rare opportunity to gain insight into organizations that are vital to the community." - Nate Waters, Williams. Next year will be his second year to serve on a panel.

Jim Barnes enjoys the opportunity to work with really great people who he would have never had the chance to meet except though the TAUW. Jim has been serving as a Community Investments panelist for two years.

"I really enjoy getting to visit the nonprofits to see first hand the impact they are having in our community, the passion that nonprofit employees have for the communities they serve, and the hope developing in the clients." - Chan Hellman, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Center of Applied Research for Nonprofit Organizations at the University of Oklahoma.

"[Community Investments panels are] a very rewarding effort which contributes significantly to the ability of many organizations to support the needy and underserved populations in our community and area." - Norma Woolsey. Next year will be her second year to serve on a panel.

"You receive a first hand glimpse of what the United Way agencies are doing to meet the various needs and issues in our community and gain a better understanding of what the agencies face with funding, and how they use and leverage the money they are provided by the United Way. I have found that serving on a Community Investments panel is a great way to become involved in the volunteer community." - Elizabeth Echols, Bank of Oklahoma, panel member for three years. 

TAUW's New Look

• Annual Campaign Concludes at Unite! 
   
• Campaign Cabinet at Core of Our Efforts 
    
• Believing in the Cause 
   
• Volunteers Needed for Community Investments Panels 
   
• Get Involved with the Women's Leadership Council during the Holidays 
   
• TAUW's New Look 
   
• Unite! Big Reveal 
   
• Save the Date for Annual Meeting 
   
• Agencies Need Your Holiday Help 
   
• Congrats are in Order
   
• Employee Campaign Coordinators Make it Happen
    
• Loaned Executives Finish Strong
   
• Always Be the First to Know
    
• Be an Advocate

Company campaigns are extremely valuable to the overall TAUW campaign every year. And Employee Campaign Coordinators (ECCs) are volunteers who work hard to put together fun and inspiring campaigns at their companies with their coworkers.  

We want to take an opportunity to let these folks know how much we appreciate their hard work, creativity and passion. We would not have been able to surpass our fundraising goal without the dedication of all of our ECCs. The Tulsa Area United Way and our 61 partner agencies are extremely grateful and thank all ECCs for their leadership.