Today marks the start for about a dozen people to raise almost $2 million over a little more than three months.
Loaned associates will begin visiting businesses throughout the Kokomo area to seek donations for the United Way of Howard County’s annual fundraising campaign.
The associates, whom employers loan to work on the campaign, began training last week, which included familiarizing themselves with the United Way and its 16 agencies.
For many of the 14 associates, 11 of whom are new this year, the visits to the non-profits taught them about a part of Kokomo they never knew.
Demetrius Warren, a loaned associate from Ivy Tech Community College, said he didn’t know organizations such as Bona Vista Programs and Samaritan Caregivers received United Way funding.
“I’m not the smartest guy on the block, but I’m positive there are people who don’t know there are these services available to them,” he said.
Laura Julian, a loaned associate from St. Joseph Hospital, said the inside look at what the non-profits did and who they served evoked a sense of compassion that has turned into motivation to work on the fundraising campaign.
“You don’t realize all these agencies can help any one of us at any given time,” she said.
The visits cleared up misconceptions and a mentality that the agencies’ services are “something somebody else uses, but not us,” said Barb Tucker, who was also a loaned associate from St. Joseph Hospital.
Training had almost wrapped up as of Tuesday, and the first wave of loaned associates will visit local businesses today, said Lori Tate, director of the United Way of Howard County.
Having an almost all-new group this year has shown some advantages so far because the rookie associates have brought new ideas and attitudes.
“This group has been like sponges where they’ve soaked up everything,” she said.
In previous years, there has been more like-mindedness, but this year, the associates have skills and experiences that complement one another well, she said.
“What doesn’t speak to one will speak to another across the room,” she said.
The United Way has set a fundraising goal for this year of $1.8 million, which is $300,000 more than last year’s target.
The main reason behind the upward bump is because the organization can receive up to $200,000 in grant money from the Indiana Association of United Ways. The grant will match, dollar-for-dollar, any new donations or increases in donations.
• Daniel Human is the Kokomo Tribune business reporter. He can be reached at 765-454-8570 or at daniel.human@kokomotribune.com.
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