Laboratory employees make record contribution to Santa Fe County United Way campaign

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., March 13, 2001 -- Employees from the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory recently were recognized at a ceremony in Santa Fe as the top contributor to the United Way of Santa Fe County’s 2000 giving campaign.

University of California Laboratory employees pledged or donated $92,840 to the Santa Fe campaign, said Chris Olivera of Los Alamos’ Community Relations Office and coordinator of employee giving at the Laboratory. The figure includes about $9,000 from the not-for-profit Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation.

The amount also is the largest ever donated by one organization to the United Way of Santa Fe County.

The Laboratory received a plaque at United Way of Santa Fe County’s awards reception last month in Santa Fe. Olivera accepted the plaque on behalf of the Laboratory.

"Our Los Alamos employees can take pride in this accomplishment," said Laboratory Director John Browne. "Once again, Lab personnel have shown through their generosity that their community is important to them and that they are eager to help the less fortunate."

"I am so proud of Los Alamos National Laboratory for their generosity in helping Santa Feans in need," said Ron Stevens, United Way of Santa Fe County executive director. "The donations will be used to help children learn and grow, encourage self-sufficiency, provide services to the elderly and promote health and healing.

"Los Alamos Laboratory employees, [many] of whom live in Santa Fe, donated a generous $82,351. The corporate gift totaled $10,489 for a grand total of $92,840 which is an all-time record in corporate giving."

Olivera noted that the Laboratory also received the Sangre de Cristo Society Award from United Way of Santa Fe County. The award is given to companies or organizations with the largest number of $500 or greater donors. Forty-six Los Alamos employees made pledges or donations of $500 or greater. Nambe Mills was the other Sangre de Cristo Society recipient.

The Los Alamos/Northern New Mexico 2000 campaign raised $966,000, surpassing the campaign goal of $750,000, said Raul Rodriguez, executive director of the Los Alamos/Northern New Mexico United Way. Of that amount, University of California Laboratory employees pledged or donated $613,000, he said.

Last year, UC Laboratory employees gave about $404,000 to United Way of Los Alamos and Northern New Mexico.

In addition to the pledges and donations from Laboratory personnel, the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation donated $75,000 to the Los Alamos/Northern New Mexico United Way campaign.

Additional news releases from the Communications and External Relations Division(CER)