United Way Reports Progress of the 1998 Torch Drive Campaign
2 November 1998
United Way Reports Progress of the 1998 Torch Drive Campaign; Announcement of 1998 'Big Three' Auto Gifts, Challenge Match and 50-Year Cumulative Auto Gift
DETROIT, Oct. 30 -- United Way Community Services today
announced that $51,024,964, or 72.9 percent of this year's combined goal of
$70 million, has been raised. The announcement was made by Edward E.
Hagenlocker, vice chairman of Ford Motor Company and general chair of the 1998
Torch Drive, at United Way's mid-report luncheon held today at the Hyatt
Regency in Dearborn. More than 500 volunteers gathered to hear the results
to-date in this year's campaign. Highlighted at the luncheon were 1998 totals
from the "Big Three Automakers"; the Auto Challenge Match for new business and
the Leadership Giving Challenge Match; and recognition of the 50-year Torch
Drive cumulative contributions made by Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor
Company and General Motors Corporation hourly and management employees. The
$70 million combined goal includes contributions received for New Detroit,
Inc. and United Way of Oakland County through a joint campaign agreement.
This year, two challenge match commitments have been made to encourage
campaign participation. They are the "Auto Challenge Match" commitment of
$300,000 by Chrysler Corporation and Ford Motor Company, which is an incentive
for companies to run United Way campaigns or give a corporate gift for the
first time; and the "Leadership Giving Challenge Match" commitment of
$900,000, provided by Ford Motor Company Fund and a team of Ford senior
executives, which encourages new and increased leadership gifts of $1,000 or
more.
"As we work toward our $70 million goal this year, we're not only
celebrating our 50-year history, we're building on it and writing a new
chapter," said Hagenlocker. "We're perpetuating and strengthening the
greatest collaborative effort to help people in our community -- today and in
the future."
"The commitment demonstrated by the thousands of volunteers and companies
throughout the past 50 years is evidence that the standard of philanthropic
giving in metropolitan Detroit is truly a reflection of the commitment of its
people," continued Hagenlocker. "An example of this commitment is the
cumulative contributions made by Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and
General Motors over the past 50 years, totaling $824,444,614."
Also highlighted today were the 1998 contributions, which together total
more than $30 million from Chrysler, Ford and GM. The vice chair for the Auto
Unit is Alex Trotman, chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Company and results of
the automotive employee campaigns are as follows:
Chrysler Corporation: Contributions totaled $6,182,020 from Chrysler
Corporation hourly and management employees in the metro Detroit area. This
is the fifth consecutive year that Chrysler has achieved a double-digit
increase. The Chrysler Corporate Fund made a gift of $1,000,000. This, in
addition to the Chrysler auto challenge match of $150,000 for new business
participation, brings contributions from Chrysler and its employees to
$7,332,020. Chrysler's campaign was chaired by Thomas W. Sidlik, executive
vice president and general manager of procurement and supply, Chrysler
Corporation, and co-chaired by Jack Laskowski, vice president director,
Chrysler Department, UAW International Union. Chrysler's cumulative
contribution to the Torch Drive over the past 50 years totals $187,751,227.
Ford Motor Company: Contributions totaled $12,981,025 from Ford Motor
Company hourly and management employees in the metro Detroit area and includes
the leadership giving challenge match from Ford executives. The Ford Fund
made a gift of $1,540,000. This, in addition to Ford's auto challenge match
of $150,000 for new business participation, and a $400,000 leadership giving
challenge match, brings contributions from Ford and its employees to
$15,071,025. This represents the largest gift ever to a single United
Way in the country. Ford's campaign was chaired by James G. O'Connor,
president of Ford Division, and Roman J. Krygier, vice president, advanced
manufacturing engineering; and co-chaired by Ron Gettelfinger, vice president,
Ford Department, UAW International Union. Ford's cumulative contribution to
the Torch Drive over the past 50 years totals $346,027,359.
General Motors Corporation: Contributions totaled $8,000,000 from General
Motors Corporation hourly and management employees. The General Motors Fund
made a gift of $1,345,000. This brings contributions from GM and its
employees to $9,345,000. GM's campaign was chaired by Roderick D. Gillum,
vice president of public policy and diversity initiative, General Motors
Corporation. General Motors' cumulative contribution to the Torch Drive over
the past 50 years totals $290,666,028.
"I am proud of the unique partnership that exists between the Torch Drive
and members of organized labor," said Elizabeth Bunn, vice president,
International United Auto Workers and Labor Participation chair. "Our
partnership, which dates back to the first Torch Drive in 1949, helped
implement the UAW/Ford Motor Company Employees Contribution Plan featuring
payroll deduction to the Torch Drive -- the first plan of its kind in the
nation, paving the way for workplace giving throughout the country. This is a
partnership that symbolizes not only the unity of givers, but the unity of
labor and management."
Other campaigns highlighted with results to-date included: Pacesetter
Campaigns, $811,201; Leadership Giving, Foundations and Individual Gifts,
$709,926; Emphasis Units/New and Focus Campaigns, $2,289,717; Metro Unit
Campaigns, $12,916,683; and the Combined Federal Campaign, $1,389,392.
"In both 1949 and 1998, and every campaign in between, we owe a tremendous
thanks to the thousands of volunteers of our community whose caring and
commitment make this a better place to live," said Virgil H. Carr, president
and CEO of United Way Community Services. "Volunteers are the ones who
make it happen. Your commitment to the Torch Drive helps more than 130 United
Way-supported agencies provide services to more than 1.5 million people
throughout southeastern Michigan -- that's one out of every three people in
the tri-county area."
"The compassion, courage and commitment demonstrated by our community 50
years ago set the pattern and the standard of giving help and giving hope,"
said Carr. "Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to help
make the 1998 Torch Drive campaign a success."
This and other Torch Drive events are made possible through the United
Way Meeting Sponsorship Pool contributions. The 1998 Torch Drive runs through
November 18. For more information on contributing to the Torch Drive, or to
volunteer, please call 313-226-9200.