By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Officials with United Way of Aroostook recently kicked off their latest fund-raising campaign with a breakfast held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Opening remarks were offered by Don Zillman, president of UMPI, who’s entering his second year as president of the non-profit organization.
“We’ve set $470,000 as the target for this year’s campaign. It’s a lot of money — a big target. The challenge begins today to put together all the pieces of the puzzle,” said Don Zillman, president of UMPI, who’s entering his second year as president of the non-profit organization. Despite tough economic times, UWA supporters were able to fulfill an even larger goal, raising $520,000, he said.
Dan Bagley, campaign chair, said a year ago he served on the Campaign Committee, with a promise to step up to the challenge.
“UWA’s mission is to mobilize resources and improve the lives of people in the community. To do that, we have five key fund-raising components: workplace campaigns, corporate gifts, individuals gifts, grants and special fundraiser like the Northern Star competition,” he said.
He noted that the average person doesn’t realize how easy it is to come up with the money to make a difference for someone else.
“I recently moved to the County Federal Credit Union in Caribou, after nine years at the Presque Isle branch. I used to watch people pull into Tim Hortons across the street and it made me think — if people gave up two cups of coffee a week they could be a leadership donor,” said Bagley.
Funds raised by the UWA benefit 21 agencies, including the Hope & Justice Project, ACAP, Salvation Army, the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross, Homeless Services of Aroostook and others.
“They’re all scrutinized very carefully and the money’s well spent. In the 11 years Claudia Stevens has served as director, over $3 million has been raised,” Bagley said.
Stevens spoke next, noting UWA officials are focusing more on “what’s important in Aroostook County.”
“We need to focus on three areas. First, we need to think about sustainable change — ways to make people more self-sufficient, because long-term support is coming to an end with government changes in the works. We also need to do things to keep kids on an even track, starting with encouraging them to stay in school. Finally, we need to support our seniors. We have a large senior citizen population in this area,” said Stevens.
“People, through no fault of their own, need help and we need to help them,” Stevens said.
To demonstrate just how important services offered by UWA-sponsored programs are, two guests shared their stories of how their lives were made better by those agencies.
Anna, a victim of domestic violence, shared her story and how the Hope & Justice Project gave her her life back. Lisa Shaw, reference librarian at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library, explained how she was forced to seek shelter through Homeless Services of Aroostook when she felt threatened by her brother-in-law — who suffered from a mental illness. Shaw, her husband and children had been living in the same home with the man when issues arose that resulted in Shaw seeking a safer environment for her and her children.
Stevens said she’d like to see the number of leadership donors increase.
“With just a little sacrifice, we can make such a difference in others’ lives,” she said.
“Even if it’s 25 cents a week, it adds up. Don’t ever think ‘My little piece can’t make a difference,’ because it sure does,” said Stevens. “We want to give a hand up, not a handout.”
