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Laboratory's 2005 United Way campaign starts Sept. 27

Making One Small Difference After Another

The Laboratory's United Way 2005 giving campaign, "Making One Small Difference After Another," begins Sept. 27.

The campaign kicks off with a book fair at Fuller Lodge from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the United Way.

Peace Meal will provide music entertainment and a lunch from Cowgirl Hall of Fame Catering will be available for $5. A chile bar, featuring vegetarian or meat chile will be served over a baked potato or cornbread, with cheese, sour cream and other toppings and a soda. Two members of Peace Meal are Lab employees: Joe Fawsett of Genomic Sequencing and Computational Biology (B-5) and Steven Booth of Infrastructure, Facilities and Construction (IFC).

Individuals who attend the kickoff at Fuller Lodge also can visit United Way affiliated member agency information tables to learn more about services these agencies provide and register for door prizes. United Way member agencies are offering an assortment of door prizes to be given away at the kick-off event.

The book fair continues from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday in the Otowi Building at Technical Area 3.

A variety of books are available for purchase, including children's books, general interest educational and reference books, cookbooks, inspirational titles and books on sports. There also will be photo albums, stationery, music, toys, executive gifts and regional titles, said Debbi Wersonick of the Community Relations (CRO) Office.

"Each year, the Laboratory partners with Northern New Mexico United Way and United Way of Santa Fe County to raise critically needed funds to benefit those in our region who may need special assistance," said Richard Mah, associate director for weapons engineering and manufacturing (ADWEM), chair of this year's giving campaign. "The United Way positively impacts the lives of thousands of New Mexican's by providing funding to more than three dozen service organizations and programs in our region.

"I am honored to again chair the Laboratory's campaign," Mah continued. "I have witnessed firsthand the generosity of our work force, your willingness to assist our neighbors and the Laboratory's commitment to the United Way."

To view a QuickTime video of Mah talking about this year's campaign, click here.

Pledge cards are scheduled to be delivered to Lab employee mail stops by Sept. 27. Employees who don't receive pledge cards by Oct. 8 should contact CRO at 5-4400. The Lab's United Way campaign continues through Nov. 12.

Employees can designate specific United Way agencies they want to support with their donation.

Laboratory workers can again pledge to the United Way campaign online. University of California employees with CRYPTOCards can make donations by going to http://unitedway.lanl.gov online.

In addition to online pledging, Lab workers can pledge to United Way through payroll deduction. Or they can write a check to United Way, attach the check to the pledge card and return it to Mail Stop P232 through interoffice mail.

Lab workers also can participate in the Northern New Mexico/Los Alamos United Way Leadership Giving Circle, which is open to employees who donate at least $1,000 in the current campaign, or the United Way of Santa Fe County Leaders in Giving program, which is open to employees who donate $500 or more.

For information on individual agencies in Los Alamos and Northern New Mexico that Lab workers can contribute to, go to www.losalamos.com/unitedway/ online. For information about the Community Priorities Fund of Santa Fe County go to www.uwsfc.org online.

United Way of Santa Fe County's Community Priorities Fund ensures that donations are used locally in the areas to help children succeed, improve health and healing, increase self-sufficiency and unify the community.

Lab divisions and groups are encouraged to organize events to support the fundraising effort.

Frequently asked questions and fundraising guidelines will be available on the CRO Web page online.

For more information, questions or comments on the Lab's 2005 United Way campaign, write to unitedway@lanl.gov by electronic mail, call 5-4400 or go to the United Way Web sites at www.losalamos.com/unitedway/ or www.uwsfc.org online.

--Steve Sandoval

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