What Matters? Employee Choice!

The United Way needs support from good "Corporate Citizens"

Niles – The United Way of Greater Niles announced today that companies that allow the United Way to conduct pledge meetings with their employees experience a five fold increase in the level of giving versus companies that do not allow such meetings.

Executive director John Stauffer said "we really need the support of local companies to succeed because employee giving is 400% greater when face to face meetings are held with workers. Although most companies like to consider themselves "good corporate citizens" it takes a commitment of company time to have a successful pledge drive. We are simply asking employers to give their employees a choice whether they wish to give a couple of dollars from their weekly paycheck to support local charities."

"Some employers have said they are afraid to hold meetings with employees because of the appearance of it being mandatory to make a pledge" said Stauffer. "That is why we always emphasize that all pledging is totally voluntary. We are just asking companies to offer the choice to their workers since payroll deduction is often the only viable way for employees to make a contribution to the United Way."

More than 60% of the support for the United Way comes from employees and the average pledge is $125 or $2.40 per week. Some local companies like United Fixtures, Pilkington and Tyler Refrigeration match all or a portion of the employee contribution so every pledge becomes even more valuable. This year new donors at some companies will even see their pledge impact tripled because of the matching grants from the Plym and Hunter Foundations.

The United Way previously announced that to stimulate new giving this year the Plym and Hunter Foundations have pledged "to match new donations of equal to or more than $1,000 from any individual or corporation and its employees." This year the pledge goal has been set at $280,000. Eighteen local charities receive financial support from the United Way of Greater Niles.

Oct 13 2004