THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 8, 1994 TAG: 9409080006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
On this day, more than 2,000 South Hampton Roads volunteers will paint buildings, erect playgrounds, serve meals and take on scores of other chores because they believe in this year's United Way campaign slogan, ``For many, it's the only way.''
The volunteers will participate in ``Day of Caring,'' the campaign kickoff event. Together, they'll provide about 12,000 hours of service and perform work worth about $100,000.
Among the workers will be Rosemary ``Mike'' De Grandchamp, a defense-contractor employee who was so moved by last year's experience for herself and fellow volunteers that she composed a poem in its honor. Trading heels and business suit for jeans and T-shirt, she painted all day at a homeless center and had ``the greatest time,'' knowing that the fruits of the philanthropic labor would serve needy people.
This year, Ms. De Grandchamp and others from the company she works for will be dispatched to three United Way agencies to do whatever is needed.
Taking care of our own is the foundation of the United Way. More than 25,000 people give their time, talents and energy to the local United Way and its agencies, keeping overhead low, so that more than 85 cents of every dollar collected in the campaign goes to meet the needs of people often incapable of helping themselves.
United Way agencies in Chesapeake, Isle of Wight County, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach benefit from local campaigns, which last year raised $10.003 million. This year's target increases to $10.005, reflecting the steadily increasing demands for services. The challenging target will be announced today.
The fund drive actually involves three campaigns: the United Way; Combined Federal campaign, collecting donations from civilian federal employees and active duty military; and Combined Virginia Campaign, soliciting state employees. Contributors may designate specific charities or have the money go where the need is greatest. They may make direct contributions or use convenient payroll deductions, a painless way to help ease others' discomfort.
A primary appeal of the United Way is offering everyone who is able to give something an opportunity to have their gifts pooled with those of others to accomplish more than single gifts could ever achieve. In Hampton Roads, that means 70 agencies can provide services ranging from after-school care to at-home meal deliveries.
Today is just the start of this annual campaign of caring. With tough blows to the economy from military and civilian layoffs, more and more people who once were able to contribute to the United Way now are looking for help. Tradition says we won't let them down because we know that, for many, the United Way is the only way. by CNB