The United Way of Greater Cleveland 2004 campaign raised $45,765,198 to fund health and human service programs and initiatives. The Report to the Community delivered by Alexander M. (Sandy) Cutler focused on innovations and results.

(Cleveland, Ohio) February 25, 2005
United Way of Greater Cleveland celebrated the end of the 2004 campaign today with an audience of over 1100 present. Campaign Chair Charles A. Ratner, President and CEO and Director of Forest City Enterprises, Inc., announced the campaign result of $45,765,198. Ratner commended his team of volunteers, "The rewards of this work are huge. The first reward is working with the campaign cabinet. These men and women are dedicated and driven to help those in need in our community."

Alexander M. "Sandy" Cutler, United Way of Greater Cleveland Chairman of the Board and chairman and CEO of Eaton Corp., reported on United Way's commitment to providing the safety net of services as well as to efficiency, effectiveness and solid governance.

Cutler reported on several instances where United Way implements checks and balances to assure the effectiveness of the programs it funds. And United Way volunteers evaluate fiscal and operational soundness of its own operations as well as its community partners. Additionally, Cutler introduced Core Service Planning, a process currently being implemented that examines the availability of health and human services throughout the community to identify gaps and duplications. Once identified, steps can be taken to remedy deficiencies as well as redundancies. "United Way of Greater Cleveland is the first to implement such a process in the country," he said.

Robert W. Gillespie, co-chair of the Community Vision Council and Chairman Emeritus of KeyCorp, reported the most recent successes of the Vision Council's work. "We have been able to leverage the initial three-year $6 million investments from the Cleveland Foundation and United Way of Greater Cleveland, to generate an additional $11.5 million to fund our initiatives. "This is a testament that private/public funders coming together to find solutions to community problems will generate the additional resources needed to make a difference."

Gillespie also said the Community Vision Council adoption initiative, implemented in partnership with the Cuyahoga County Commissioners and other generous funders, placed 132 "hard to place" children in adoptive homes. "This is over two times the goal we set when we focused on adoption," he said. He also said that the SeniorsConnect.org, a web site created to help seniors find services via the internet, is currently receiving over 100,000 hits per month.

The Honorable Jane Campbell, Mayor of Cleveland, in addition to thanking Ratner and Cutler for their strong leadership throughout the campaign, commented on GuitarMania II, Encore in 2004. She said this United Way project promotes local art talent as well as raises money to support the community and was a welcome addition to Cleveland streets. Cleveland residents and visitors enjoyed the guitars on display around the city and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum throughout the summer.

George M. Humphrey, II, was named United Way's Volunteer of the Year. Humphrey was honored for his dedication to United Way, particularly his 15 years of service on the Board of Directors and his success in development.

Allan Krulak, campaign liaison and Vice President and Director of Community Affairs, Forest City Enterprises, Inc., received the organization's Community Partner Award for his work on the 2004 campaign.

Additionally, for demonstrating "What Matters" every day at United Way Community Partners, 50 very special volunteers were honored for their dedication and work behind the scenes by being named their agency's Spotlight Award winner for this year.

Barbara Danforth, United Way's Council of Agency Executives president and YWCA of Greater Cleveland executive director, praised Spotlight volunteers for their donation of time and talent.