Andrea Timan, Employee Campaign Manager (ECM) for the General Electric (GE) Lighting team, engages United Way in a variety of ways.
In addition to her role as ECM, Timan sits on the cabinet of United Way of Greater Cleveland’s young professionals group, GeneratioNEXT, which supports the community through philanthropy and volunteerism. Remarkably, she also finds time to volunteer with United Way’s Days of Caring program.
Timan said that she’s impressed with United Way and its dedication to funding so many Greater Cleveland health and human service programs. She noted that part of her campaign strategy is to show her co-workers how their donations and volunteer efforts directly benefit the sustained well-being of the Greater Cleveland community. She added that a United Way campaign is a great way for GE to reach out and make a difference.
To provide her staff with a better understanding of United Way and the pledge process, Timan traditionally kicks off GE’s campaign with a screening of the campaign video. This year, because the company fell 10 percent short of their 2009 campaign goal, Timan is working to revive some of GE’s old campaigning methods.
“I want to bring back more activities,” Timan says. “As the business is growing again it will drive in more potential dollars.” Timan is confident that this return to a more dynamic campaign style will help GE reach its 2010 goal of $270,000.
Timan’s efforts to revitalize GE’s campaign already have begun. In July she began the “Dine United” initiative, which comprises three lunches, each with a different theme, prepared by GE. Admission to each lunch is $7, $3 of which benefits the company’s United Way campaign. Given that the first lunch brought in $410, Timan is hopeful that “Dine United” will ultimately raise between $1,000 and $2,000.
The new fundraising effort Timan is most anticipating resembles a corporate challenge, and involves friendly competition between her co-workers. The event, named “Play United” and supported by the business leadership team as a Health Ahead Initiative, includes games like bocce ball, corn hole, flag football and volleyball. Timan says that she hopes putting the United Way brand on the activities will increase employee participation in the 2010 campaign.
Timan’s favorite campaigning effort offers GE employees the opportunity to eschew work in favor of an Indians game. For the price of $35 each, attendees get the afternoon off and a seat in the bleachers at one of the Indian's September bouts against the White Sox. Sixteen dollars from every ticket benefits GE’s United Way campaign, while another $10 is made available to each attendee to spend in the team shop or at concession stands. In 2009 alone this event raised $1,800 for GE’s United Way campaign. Timan said it is a great way to benefit a noble cause while enjoying one of the year’s last days of pleasant weather.
Timan is looking forward to GE’s September 15th campaign kickoff, and to going the extra mile for United Way year-round.
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