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2004 United Way Campaign rolls out new way for employees to participate

The 2004 United Way Campaign has a new feature, the "Fair Share" program, that may allow more employees to participate. This year, employees can give a monetary gift, volunteer time or do both.

The concept behind "Fair Share" is participation, not money, according to Rich Mah, chairman of this year's United Way campaign at the Laboratory. Every Lab employee deserves the opportunity to participate in personal service to the community, Mah said, noting that the "Fair Share" program will enable all Lab employees to give back to the community and be recognized for it as well.

"Employees who aren't able to give a monetary donation to United Way may pledge their "Fair Share" of volunteer time to any United Way or other nonprofit agency and have this volunteer time count as employee participation," said Mah, the Laboratory's associate director for Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing.

"Fair Share" is defined as one hour per month of any employee's time — 12 hours (or more) between October 2003 and September 2004. The "Fair Share" pledge card, which employees will receive through interoffice mail, includes a Web address that features a listing, with descriptions, of suggested United Way agencies needing volunteers. These agencies are grouped into the following categories: children, seniors, women and homeless. There also is the option of writing in a favorite nonprofit agency that may not be listed.

Completed pledge cards should be returned to the Community Relations (CRO) Office at Mail Stop A117. Hours pledged by employees will be counted as participation in the 2004 United Way campaign.

"This program will rely on an honor system for employees to complete their pledged 'Fair Share' to the community," Mah explained. "We anticipate an increase in participation in the United Way program and trust that employees will fulfill their commitments. "

"Fair Share" pledge cards should arrive at employee mail stops this week. For more information, contact CRO at 5-4400 and ask to speak with a United Way team member.

--Vanessa Delacruz

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