Campaign Kickoff and Pancake Flip 2011

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Campaign Co-Chairs Jerry Kelsheimer, Fifth Third Bank President & CEO, and Zev Weiss, American Greetings Corporation Chief Executive Officer, announced the 2011 campaign goal of $40,125,000 at the Annual Campaign Kickoff and Pancake Flip, September 1 on Public Square. The 2011 goal is higher then the previous campaign goal of $40.1 million.

Terry Egger, United Way’s Chairman of the Board and The Plain Dealer Publisher, President and Chief Executive Officer, asked the attendees to spread the word that every donation contributes to the success of the campaign. And he introduced the Campaign Co-Chairs to the community who announced the goal with help from a performance by The St. Edward Trash Talkers.

In an earlier interview Kelsheimer and Weiss talked about the task of raising even more money in a slowly recovering economic environment.

The goal will be a stretch, but "the need requires us to attempt this," said Kelsheimer.

Calls to United Way's First Call for Help 2-1-1 line during the first eight months of 2011 are up 11.8 percent over last year, especially requests for emergency food.

“People who have jobs are feeling a lot better than they did in previous years,” Weiss said. “So we are hearing from people who are working that they are more inclined to share their good fortune to help those who are not working.”

Kelsheimer said that although the campaign officially kicked off on September 1, Pacesetter campaigns that run early in the summer, special events and other corporate contributions have already raised nearly $7 million for the campaign.

United Way volunteers and Cleveland celebrities flipped more than 10,000 pancakes to serve over 3,400 breakfasts. And UPS drivers delivered breakfasts to offices throughout downtown.