SIKORSKY'S GIVING CAMPAIGN IS BEST EVER

BRIDGEPORT, CT - (December 26, 2003) When planning campaigns at some of the largest companies in the region, United Way of Eastern Fairfield County was committed to making the opportunity for every employee to give back to their community as easy as possible. But nobody was prepared for the level of generosity displayed by Sikorsky Aircraft employees who clicked on and picked their charity of choice as part of an innovative new e-pledge system at the Stratford-based helicopter plant.

In a tremendous display of community spirit, employees of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation pledged $1,380,000 to the 2004 Community Giving Campaign - the highest total ever received in Sikorsky's history.
"This result shows that the people at Sikorsky believe in the United Way …," said Sikorsky President Steve Finger. Last year, all Sikorsky's employees' donations are distributed to United Way programs and partners across Connecticut, as well as more than 390 unaffiliated organizations and another statewide health agency campaign.

According to United Way's President and CPO Merle Berke-Schlessel, the company's 2003 initiative was administered largely through the new web-based E-Pledge system. "This on-line tool made the pledging process more convenient and manageable for Sikorsky's department administrators, while providing employees with additional options about giving and how to make monetary contributions," said Berke-Schlessel. "And our Bridgeport-based United Way was delighted to serve as the administrator, running this electronic campaign on behalf of every United Way program recipient across the state."

In addition to localized United Way partners, the E-Pledge site featured many new organizations and agencies to which people designated part or all of their individual donations. During the campaign, solicitors organized and implemented round-the-clock meetings to make employees aware of this new method and to request their participation.

"Our Loaned Executive from Sikorsky, Barry Kelly, came out to speak with Sikorsky employees on many occasions," said Berke-Schlessel. "He played a key role in making the e-pledge system available to the employees. We wanted to make sure everyone got first-hand information on how United Way was putting their pledges to work impacting positive results in their own communities."

Sikorsky's campaign chairman was among those who were enthusiastic about the E-Pledge system.
"I'd like to thank every employee who made the choice to use E-Pledge," said Peter Longo, Sikorsky vice president and CFO, and chairman of the Sikorsky Giving Campaign. "This system helped us to elevate the reach of the campaign across all locations and areas of the company."

A significant increase in the giving campaign was also credited to Sikorsky's popular Silent Auction. That individual auction raised a record-breaking $29,500 for the campaign and featured items ranging from theater passes, to helicopter rides and vacations.

For further information on the success of Sikorsky's campaign, or to learn about other regional businesses participating in the E-Pledge system, contact: Andrea Kovacs, Sr. VP, Marketing and Community Relations at United Way, 334-5106, ext. 309 or via email at akovacs@thewaytocare.org.