United Way announces start of fundraising drive, 1,500+ volunteers in Day of Caring
(MEMPHIS, TN Sept. 12)
United Way General Campaign Chairman Kathy Buckman Gibson announced the official start of this year’s UW fundraising drive and over 1500 volunteers from across the Mid-South spread out across the community for this year’s UW Day of Caring volunteer service event.
United Way board members and volunteers gathered at Christ the Rock Metro Church, 8800 Winchester Road on Friday, Sept. 12, at 8 a.m. for a campaign kickoff rally that began United Way’s 2008-09 regional fundraising campaign. Highlights included a generous $1 million dollar contribution from FedEx, and a report of leading organizations who have already completed their 2008/2009 fundraising drives.
Buckman-Gibson, chairman of Bulab Holdings Inc (Buckman Laboratories), is leading United Way’s fundraising effort as General Campaign Chairman this year.
"With local home foreclosure figures on the rise and an increasing problem with hunger threatening the Mid-South, this year’s fundraising effort is important for United Way’s network of over 100 local nonprofits that help people in need," said Dave Skorupa, vice president of communications for United Way. "The work performed by Mid-South volunteers during Day of Caring impacts local people and improves our entire community," Skorupa said.
Other speakers included Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton and Robert Varner, Vice President of Distribution and Customer Service at Medtronic, who gave a report of that organization's fundraising success to date.
Day of Caring volunteers participate in a wide variety of projects from landscaping and grounds improvements to interacting with children and adults with special needs due to physical challenges.
Day of Caring volunteers departed Christ the Rock Metro Church at 8:45 a.m. and arrived at more than 77 nonprofit agency sites, where most worked until roughly 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.
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