United Way celebrates best campaign in a decade with $46.5 Million; Community Vision Council outlines accomplishments through partnerships

(Cleveland, Ohio) March 11, 2004
Greater Cleveland's United Way Services today celebrated a $46.5 million campaign finish, topping last year's total by more than $2 million and besting a decade-long record for most dollars raised to improve the lives of Greater Clevelanders. The announcement by 2003 Campaign Chair Alexander M. "Sandy" Cutler, chairman and CEO of Eaton Corp., was made to a capacity crowd at United Way's Annual Meeting at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel ballroom.

"The need has continued to be great, so we had to set our goals higher knowing that people count on United Way now more than ever. The results prove that by working together, we truly can achieve great things," said Cutler. Cutler's campaign team raised $46,511,876, representing a 4.7 percent increase or $2,102,050 over last year's total of $44,409,826. The total bests the $46,301,618 raised in 1992, making it the highest total in more than a decade and the greatest percentage increase over a prior year's campaign since 1984.

While acknowledging United Way's commitment to securing the local safety net of care with partner agencies, Alex Machaskee, chair of the United Way Services Board of Directors and president and publisher of The Plain Dealer, pointed out how the community's largest private sector funder of health and human services has expanded its role.

"United Way has taken risks and assumed responsibilities to move our community forward," said Machaskee, referring to the organization's role in the Community Vision Council initiative. "It has taken the lead to harness and focus limited human and financial resources to build partnerships and collaborations so that we, as a community, can better tackle shared priorities in strategic, measurable ways."

Machaskee concluded his terms from 2002-2004 as United Way's Board Chair and described it as a pivotal time in United Way's history. He explained how United Way's reputation for accountability now positions the organization as a national model of integrity through its citizen review investment process and as one of the "nation's most efficient charities" (2003 Charity Navigator survey) with its low administrative costs of 11.5 percent.

He also pointed out:

• United Way is gaining national recognition because the one-time United Way effort has evolved into a shared, broad-based community-wide agenda in health and human services;
• United Way was invited to present at last year's United Way's National Conference in Nashville and at this year's recent summit at Harvard University for chief professional officers of United Ways around the country.

Underscoring the value in the power of partnerships of the Community Vision Council was Cleveland Mayor Jane L. Campbell, who also serves on its executive committee as co-chair of the Strong families = successful children Vision Council. Sharing the stage with the Mayor, Machaskee and Cutler was Steven A. Minter, co-chair of the Community Vision Council. All focused on "What Matters," the theme of United Way's Annual Meeting, by responding with examples of improving people's lives.

"The coming together of this public-private partnership is a tribute to the diversity, uniqueness and commitment of this great community of ours," said Minter, executive in residence at Cleveland State University. His remarks focused on results of the Community Vision Council since the last progress report a year ago.

Minter outlined major accomplishments in each of the targeted areas. Examples included the launch of the SeniorsConnect.org Web site for seniors and their care givers that is receiving 115,000 hits a month; the strongest example of leveraged resources in targeted smoking cessation programs, thanks to more than a 200 percent return since the original investment; plans for a regional approach to helping displaced workers and success in training quality day care teachers to enhance student success. Emerging priorities include a coordinated transportation system for seniors and a child adoption initiative.

Ivan J. Winfield was named United Way's Volunteer of the Year. Winfield has played a strategic role in shaping United Way's Board as its long-time Development Chair and helped to frame the Community Vision Council initiative.

James L. Mason, Eaton's vice president of community initiatives, received the organization's Community Partner Award for his work on the 2003 campaign and as the Government Relations Committee Chair.

Additionally, for demonstrating "What Matters" every day at partner agencies, one special volunteer at each agency was honored for dedication and work behind the scenes by being named their agency's Spotlight Award winner for this year.

Patricia Nobili, the executive director of the Achievement Centers for Children, who heads United Way's Council of Agency Executives, praised Spotlight volunteers for working "without fanfare" when she noted that today "they are our headline makers." In her remarks she praised the selfless demonstration of caring by Spotlight honorees, noting winners exemplify United Way's message that "We do great things…together!"

At United Way's business meeting that preceded the luncheon, Machaskee was named a Life Director, and Cutler was named the new chair of the Board of Directors, the organization's top volunteer leadership position. Taking the reigns as the 2004 Campaign Chair is Charles A. Ratner, president and chief executive officer and a director of Forest City Enterprises, Inc.