United Way tops goal

Published on March 3, 2004

Big employers, big gifts help Forsyth drive raise $16.2 million. By Todd Cohen WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. [03.03.04] -- United Way of Forsyth County beat its $16.2 million goal for its 2003 drive by just over $1,000. And for the second straight year, United Way has won the United Way of America award for raising the most funds from individuals giving $10,000 or more among United Ways serving communities of 200,000 to 500,000 people. Key to campaign’s success were workplace campaigns at big employers, and gifts of $1,000 and up, says Ron Drago, president. “We continue to rely on, and have realized very significant commitments and results from our major accounts,” he says. Seven big employers account for 53 percent of the drive, and five of those posted increases this year, including Krispy Kreme, up 41 percent; Sara Lee, up 15 percent; BB&T, up 13 percent; Forsyth Medical Center, up 11 percent; and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, up 5 percent. Employees at those five firms increased their giving by more than $500,000. In setting the goal for its drive, down from $17 million raised a year earlier, United Way projected that anticipated workforce reductions at other big employers, including Wachovia and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, would result in $800,000 in lost contributions. United Way also knew that downsizing, closings and relocations by individuals would cost it another $400,000 in lost contributions, compared to the previous drive. Those setbacks were offset in part by $80,000 from small businesses holding workplace campaigns for the first time, and an increase to 43 percent from 38 percent in the share of the drive represented by individual gifts of $1,000 or more, which totaled nearly $7 million. That included $2.3 million from 151 individuals giving $10,000 or more, up from 147 in the previous drive who gave more than $2.1 million. The United Way board’s 39 members contributed more than $303,000, and 47 organizations held their first United Way campaigns ever. A promising aspect of the drive, and a positive sign for the 2004 drive this fall, Drago says, were strong showings at companies with healthy businesses, particularly financial-services and high-tech firms, and some manufacturers. “We were pleasantly surprised by the number of companies that really do have good business circumstances,” he says, “and that was reflected in the significant number of increases at mid-sized companies.” Steve Lineberger, president of Sara Lee Sock and Sara Lee Underwear, chaired the drive.  

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