UNITED WAY IS TAKING 1,500 VOLUNTEERS OUT TO THE BALL GAME.

BRIDGEPORT, CT - (April 23, 2003) If you have taken time to volunteer during the past year, the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County wants to take you and your family out to a ballgame. To help celebrate its 83rd annual campaign, the local United Way is inviting anyone who has volunteered for any nonprofit organization in its six town service region to attend the May 13 Bridgeport Bluefish baseball game and kickoff celebration.

The UWEFC is making up to four tickets per volunteer available first-come, first served. All the recipient has to do is provide the name of the nonprofit for which they volunteered, and claim their tickets at the United Way's office on a designated day.

Volunteers, and the organizations represented by them need not be affiliated with the United Way to be eligible for tickets. The United Way asks callers to request only the quantity they will use in order to maximize the amount of tickets available for all.

Merle Berke-Schlessel, president and CPO of the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County hopes the ticket giveaway will reinforce that her organization exists to help serve every person and support all nonprofits in its service area including Bridgeport, Stratford, Fairfield, Trumbull, Easton and Monroe.

"What better way to say thanks to all who give their time to their local church, ambulance service, shelter, food pantry or other nonprofit, than to give them an enjoyable evening taking in America's favorite pastime," Berke-Schlessel said. "The event will also give everyone an opportunity to rally together and show there is strength in numbers, and together, we can each make a significant, positive impact on the lives of our neighbors."

Interested volunteers can call or email their requests for up to four tickets for the Bridgeport Bluefish game against the Pennsylvania Road Warriors at 6:35pm May 13. All callers should provide their full name, address including town and zip, a day and evening phone number and email (if available) and will be notified of their ticket pickup date as soon as the requests are processed.

The deadline for ticket requests is 5pm Tuesday, May 6, 2003. Volunteers will be notified within 48-hours if their request can be honored. Call 203-334-5106 ext 334, or email newsletter@thewaytocare.org with Bluefish Tickets in the subject line.

United Way focuses on what matters, and builds stronger communities by supporting nearly 80 health and human service programs that helped more than 180,000 people last year. United Way funded programs impact a range of critical services in the communities of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull.