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The Tulsa Area United Way volunteer Board of Directors has approved a goal of $24,556,573 for its 2011 fundraising campaign which officially kicks off Friday, September 9, 2011. Jim Bender, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Williams and 2011 Campaign Chair, announced the goal following a meeting of the Board on June 21.
"As we prepare for this year's campaign, we are both optimistic and realistic. There are plenty of opportunities in our sights. We have found that, as our economy continues to improve, the people and companies of Tulsa come through with generosity and giving spirits," said Bender. "We feel this goal will provide our 61 partner agencies with the necessary resources to meet the increased need for critical services in the Tulsa area."
Bender said the Campaign Cabinet has spent the past five months carefully assessing last year's campaign, evaluating the economic climate while building a strong volunteer base. "In developing this year's goal, we reviewed the state of the local economy and the willingness of our citizens to give, advocate and volunteer," Bender said. "With our exceptional campaign team and the support of all of our communities, we will do our best to not only meet but hopefully exceed the $24,556,573 goal."
"Nearly 150 volunteers have spent more than 5,000 hours over the past five months assessing the 61 partner agencies' funding requests and determining the best investment strategy for the funds raised by the 2011 campaign," said Dan Ellinor, Senior Executive Vice President of Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. and 2011 TAUW Board of Directors Chair. "This results in a recommendation that is then balanced by input from the Community Investments Steering Committee, the Campaign Cabinet and TAUW’s Board of Directors."
"The Tulsa area is an immensely generous community and is made up of individuals and organizations with the inspiration to do something for others," said Mark R. Graham, TAUW President and CEO. "We are moving confidently toward the 2011 campaign season knowing that area companies and citizens will once again generously step forward to help improve the lives of their families, friends and neighbors through their gifts to the Tulsa Area United Way."
"We are deeply appreciative to our historically strong base of companies who conduct campaigns every year. Last year we also welcomed more than 100 new employee campaigns, and many more businesses of all sizes have the opportunity to run a first-time campaign this year. We want everyone - companies, organizations and individuals - to be a part of this vital community-wide effort."
In the past 87 years, the Tulsa Area United Way has invested more than $590 million in the Tulsa area by enhancing the community's three building blocks to a better life: education, financial stability and health/safety. The Tulsa Area United Way provides services to more than 630,000 individuals annually through its 61 partner agencies in Creek, Okmulgee, Osage, Rogers, Wagoner and Tulsa counties. For more information, call TAUW at 918-583-7171 or visit www.tauw.org.
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