United
Way Celebrates Volunteers
More Than 4,600 Hours Donated
in the Last 12 Months
Bridgeport,
CT - United Way of Eastern Fairfield County hosted a luncheon
today celebrating community volunteers. Nearly 300 attended
at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn and Conference Center. In
total, more than 4,600 volunteer hours went into the community
over the last 12 months.
“I wish we could fit every volunteer into this room,”
said United Way President Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq.
“But there aren’t very many places where you
can invite 1,500 people to lunch,” she noted, referring
to the estimated number of United Way volunteers since
November 2003. “We strongly believe that collective
action will accomplish more than any one person or group
can accomplish alone. What matters most is the power of
participation. The accomplishments of these volunteers
clearly demonstrate that.”
The Southern Connecticut Gas Company, in partnership with
18 other local companies, was the luncheon’s title
sponsor.
The event served as a forum for an update on United Way’s
Success by 6 program for early childhood education and
intervention. Success by 6 Co-Chairs Dr. Thomas Kennedy
(Bridgeport Hospital) and Mary-Jane Foster (Freeborn Investors)
provided an overview of the program’s progress to
date, including the $1 million ELOA grant awarded in October,
and a preview of things to come. Both stressed the importance
of Success by 6 partnerships. “The goal of Success
by 6 is to ensure that all children are prepared to succeed
at school,” said Dr. Kennedy. “That is why we’ve
worked to bring together all sectors of the community
including parents, families, healthcare, behavioral health,
social services, business, education, government, child
advocates, voluntary organizations, foundations and the
faith community to work collaboratively to achieve success.”
Foster added, “Study after study, statistic after
statistic tells us early investments in children get results.
Research has shown that every $1 invested in early care
and education programs returns $8 in saved costs for special
education, grade retention, counseling, juvenile delinquency
and ultimately incarceration.”
Community Campaign Chair John Dobos (Southern Connecticut
Gas Company) stressed that United Way’s ability to
leverage every gift for maximum results makes it the best
choice for community investment. “United Way is focused
on what matters - children, families and community. United
Way returns $1.44 in services to the community for every
$1 donated to the Community Impact Fund. The tools they
use to accomplish this are the Community Campaign, grant
writing, and collaborative building.”
United Way is in the business of building a stronger,
more caring community across Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield,
Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. Our focus is on what matters.
Research and experience tells us that the best way to
help the most people is to focus on the root causes of
the most serious problems. It takes the whole community
- working together- to make that happen. So we bring people
together from all across the community - people from government,
business, faith groups, nonprofits, and ordinary citizens-
to tackle the issues that matter most. United Way is committed
to the bottom line results: the lives we change and the
communities we shape.
Click
Here to View 2004 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon Photos
