AUBURN — United Way of Androscoggin County is aiming for a 2010 campaign goal of $1.9 million.
This year’s target was announced Thursday at a breakfast kickoff meeting of volunteers at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch by campaign co-chairs Dick Albert of Champoux Insurance and Maureen Aube, operations manager of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce.
“We need that and more,” Albert said. He expressed optimism that the goal can be reached “even in an unforgiving economy.”
Scores of volunteers met at the Hilton Garden Riverwatch for the event which also serves as the beginning of the United Way’s annual Day of Caring. That effort sends workers to assist agencies and individuals throughout L-A to assist with agency building maintenance as well as some gardening, playground maintenance and some residential work.
Jolene Bedard, executive director of United Way of Androscoggin, said, “This is the largest Day of Caring in our history,” Bedard told the volunteers. She said about 15 area companies were providing 195 employees for area service projects.
That includes several from Austin Associates who would be helping Sandcastle Preschool with a move to their new building.
Brian DuBois, executive director of the Auburn YMCA, said 32 volunteers from TD Bank would be at the Turner Street YMCA building to paint in offices and at the pool, and another 18 volunteers from Electrostatic Technology, Mechanic Falls, would go to the YMCA’s Camp Connor in Poland to work on brush clearing and similar chores at the facility.
Other volunteers headed for the Boys and Girls Club in New Auburn and other area destinations.
Bedard urged the volunteers to “talk it up” with staff members at the agencies receiving help. She said the Day of Caring is an outstanding opportunity to let people know more about United Way.
Aube announced the goals of the several United Way divisions. She said the Commerce Division has the largest goal of $797,000. The Leaders Circle category of giving is projecting a goal of $550,000.
Other divisions and goals are Education, $62,000; Nonprofits, $65,000; Local Government and Public Service, $58,000; Finance and Insurance, $300,000; Professional, $55,000; and Health Care, $175,000.
April Caron, director of development at United Way of Androscoggin County, reported on Pacesetters giving results, which stands at $150,000.
Estelle Rubenstein, executive director of Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care, which is one of the United Way partner agencies, told the breakfast audience, “No service agency works in isolation.” She explained how her agency’s efforts benefited a young mother who was fighting cancer and in need of child care assistance. She said it was a good example of gap funding, which is increasingly needed in current economic situations.
A video production prepared by WMTW-TV also was shown to the audience.
The 2010 United Way of Androscoggin County campaign for 2010 wraps up with a meeting slated for Nov. 9.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
