Pantagraph.com | News | United Way kicks off annual campaign

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

used to be wrote on Aug 30, 2007 9:20 PM:

" a leadership giver for several years. however, around the time each campaign kicked off, I would receive this memo stating "you are this...you are that...please consider give $50 more." naturally, I considered giving more simply due to each years better financial situation. however, I stopped giving to the UW simply due to the fact that they did not send any literature to me describing where my money was going. rather than say "you are this and you are that" how about sending me something stating what the UW is and what they accomplished throughout the past year. until then, I will not donate again. "

To Mc Donads should pay wrote on Aug 30, 2007 8:34 PM:

" Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The MARKET, not a person with an arbitrary social philosophy, establishes what the wage rate should be. Fast food line work positions aren't meant to provide a full income on which to live. That's why you see kids and retirees with those jobs. There's already a supply of workers that fills the demand for those employers. Higher wages aren't needed to fill those positions. It's all supply and demand. You might want to read about it in an Economics book sometime. "

Mc Donads should pay wrote on Aug 30, 2007 4:51 PM:

" Dobski should do more than just be chairwoman. She could try giving her employees benefits and a living wage so they would not be a drain on taxpayers and social services. "

to those little cards wrote on Aug 30, 2007 10:00 AM:

" Exactly! Girl Scout cookie selling is even prohibited, along with every other fundraiser out there, EXCEPT the United Way. I'd say most, not all, of the SFers that get involved as UW ambassadors are only doing it to put on their resume, not because they truly believe in the UW. How sad! "

? wrote on Aug 30, 2007 7:52 AM:

" Why is it that Catholic Charities is involved and getting money from U.W.? Isn't the catholic church one of the richest organizations in the world? Why isn't this discriminating against other religious organizations in town? Seems like a double whammy! "

Payroll deduction form wrote on Aug 30, 2007 7:35 AM:

" A few years ago my payroll deduction form had my social security number printed on it. They stated you had to turn in the card even if you refused to donate. I donated the card after shredding it to the recycle waste basket. I give on my own and cut out the middle man. "

TO:Jayne wrote on Aug 30, 2007 7:32 AM:

" Some of the better services are no longer affiliated with United Way. How about a full breakdown published in the paper of salaries of all who work for these organizations and the expenses? How much was spent on the kickoff banquet? "

those little cards wrote on Aug 30, 2007 7:20 AM:

" You CAN refuse to sign a card. State Farm used to "require" them too when I first started there over 10 years ago, and I told them I was not going to do it. I even went as high as our department VP to explain that they had no grounds for forcing me to participate in any way in giving to charity. Evidently I wasn't the only one protesting because two years later those little cards were gone. Now they don't let US ask others for contributions for charities we support, yet they can still shove UW down our throats day after day by e-mail and PA annoncements. And the bigwig who preaches it the loudest is someone who doesn't care a bit about anyone but himself and schmoozing to advance his career. It's disgusting. "

to: plaid braisley wrote on Aug 30, 2007 6:41 AM:

" It's all about the numbers. To those who still have to fill out the payroll deduction forms even if they don't want to give: just tell them you're going to sue. When they do that they're pressuring you a little too much. It makes it too obvious that your giving or lack thereof affects your salary deductions. "

plaid braisley wrote on Aug 30, 2007 6:05 AM:

" i used to work in a store where the manager was involved in the united way fund raising.apparently it was very important to have contributions from every employee. i explained that i gave to my own choice of charities but a couple of discussions later it was made plain to me that everyone was going to give something. they finally gave me a gift certificate for 10.00 and had me sign a payroll deduction authorization for 10.00.i guess just giving the gift certs to the united way directly didn't give them the 100% employee participation they so desperately needed.i'm just juvenile enough to never give another dime to the united way ; and i never have. i contribute to several not for profits but not the united way and not any one that uses the"you gave last year and we're counting on you this year" approach. "

LittleMac wrote on Aug 30, 2007 5:57 AM:

" I agree with " Great work Normal": I wouldn't have expected a 112% increase either. I'd have expected much more. Especially if you, in effect, have a gun to your head. Thanks a lot for your 'commitment' to the community. "

To "Great Work Normal" wrote on Aug 30, 2007 5:06 AM:

" You said, "You all have changed my perception of municipal employees and their committment to the community." Employees with "great committment to the community" would not be want to take this day off at taxpayer expense. "

Great work Normal!! wrote on Aug 30, 2007 3:02 AM:

" A 112% increase!!! WOW!! That is fantastic!! Thank you Town of Normal employees for an unbelievably successful Pacesetter campaign. I wouldn't have expected nearly that kind of a result from a governmental organization. You all have changed my perception of municipal employees and their committment to the community. Way to go!!! "

Eric H. wrote on Aug 30, 2007 12:12 AM:

" Where I work, each department's United Way committee representative hands out payroll deduction forms to every employee in his department and is required to collect and return each form, even those of employees who choose not to give to United Way. To me that seems much too pushy. We also receive about 1 to 3 emails a week encouraging us to participate in the campaign. Sometimes I can hardly believe how much spin can be crammed into one short message! It's almost a real life version of "1984." The UW has a place in the community, but in my view the push for donations is taken way too far. I, too, have greatly reduced the amount I give to United Way and instead give directly to organizations I have personally checked out and found to be worthwhile. I trust myself more than I trust a Board of Trustees, and I certainly see no reason to have my contributions reduced 10 - 20 percent by administrative costs. "

United Way wrote on Aug 29, 2007 8:14 PM:

" No Way! Please folks, pick a charity of your choice. There are plenty of not for profit orgs that need a helping hand. By donating directly to a charity of your choice you're not going through all the middle man garb. Donating your time is another way to give from the heart! "

UW is crammed down your throat wrote on Aug 29, 2007 7:29 PM:

" if you work for State Farm. Every year, for months at a time, State Farm bombards their employees with United Way this, United Way that. The bigwigs involved in the annual UW effort don't realize how many employees they are pushing in the opposite direction with all their emails and loudspeaker announcements. I'm happy to give to charity, but I'm sick of hearing about United Way for months out of every year. I read the news, I know there are organizations that need monetary donations, and I give to them, but I make my checks out directly to them. State Farm says they don't keep track of who gives in the UW campaign every year but I don't believe that. "

to: Jayne wrote on Aug 29, 2007 6:58 PM:

" Actually if I ever decide to go that route I am perfectly capable of extorting money from people on my own. I don't need help from the United way. "

To:Do not Give wrote on Aug 29, 2007 6:34 PM:

" These forums sometimes promote bold face lies. Your comments about the UW are untrue. They do have a small admin cost for posters and such...but no one at the UW is getting rich doing their job. Also, the UW has given a substantial amount over the years to Safe Harbor, a part of the Salvation Army. Also, all of the donations to the UW are kept in Mclean County unless you designate the money be sent to a specific organization. If you donate to the Salvation Army in McLean County, a portion of that money goes to Peoria. The UW is not shoved down the throats of people. If people do not want to give, that should be fine. But folks who come on this forum and simply lie should not be allowed. If you want to sling mud, bring a fact or two! "

I cut out the middleman wrote on Aug 29, 2007 5:15 PM:

" I give my donations directly to the organization that I choose. This way, administrative costs aren't deducted for United Way - the charity I choose gets 100% of my donation. Also, the UW doesn't support all the charities I give to, so this works out better for me, and I'm sure other people as well. If you want to give to UW, fine, but don't shove it down my throat and don't judge me if I don't give to UW, because my money is going to a charity directly. "

DO NOT GIVE TO UNITED WAY wrote on Aug 29, 2007 4:31 PM:

" United way uses their money to make posters, drive BMW's and such. The Salvation Army actually gives their stock and their profit to the needy. The Salvation Army is running out of food, while the United Way stocks up on millions of dollars as they invade every corporate building in the area asking for donations. Please give other charities a thought, as the United Way does not do what the other charities do. Give to the Mission, as they actually house the homeless. What does United Way do besides use everything for advertising? "

McUnited Way wrote on Aug 29, 2007 3:44 PM:

" Why such a low goal? County McDonalds alone, instead of soliciting donations from their customers and employees, donated a portion of each sale or even a flat rate per transaction for the year to this cause it would greatly overshadow the measly 80,000 that is "raised" by using city employees. The "average" McDonalds genrates 1.5 million in sales annually, and there being over a dozen of them in the county. The real math is 18 million in average sales over a dozen stores donating less than 1/2 of one percent of that equals only the 80 grand cited by town employees?? I may be wrong but I would really like to see where the most contributions really come from? I can't, unlike some people, really afford to donate that percentage all at once, but if I can help by giving $8.33 a month out of my 20K a year I am in. All I have to do is smoke a pack or two of cigarettes a month. Cough-cough.!! "

Jayne wrote on Aug 29, 2007 3:39 PM:

" To LittleMac: How fortunate for you that you have never had to use the many services in this community paid for through UW donations. I envy you... "

LittleMac wrote on Aug 29, 2007 1:52 PM:

" "....how much they think their employees and companies can contribute to United Way." United Way: the gift that keeps on taking. I mean, giving. "

Bloomington UW supporter wrote on Aug 29, 2007 12:09 PM:

" What a great kickoff!! Way to go Town of Normal employees!! You really showed your support of McLean County. Thank you! "

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