by Chelsea Nelson
Interactive Communications Director
You might remember that United Way of Salt Lake has multiple employees that give on a leadership level. Giving on a leadership level is a large commitment to make on top of a full-time job here at UWSL–but our employees are so involved and supportive of our work that donating a portion of their paycheck is done happily. Quarterly, the President’s Club (made up of UWSL employees who donate on a leadership level) get together to celebrate successes and talk about the work that is upcoming. This quarter, the President’s Club gathered to learn how to make some wonderful Indian food and discuss where UWSL is headed in the upcoming months. I asked 3 loyal UWSL employees WHY they give and here is what they had to say!
“Having worked for many years in the non-profit sector, it has been inspirational to witness the generosity of others but I have never experienced anything quite like United Way of Salt Lake. I give because I am so proud to be part of an organization whose mission is to improve lives and has made a promise to change the odds for entire neighborhoods and communities. Furthermore, I am profoundly moved by the incredible staff at UWSL, as they are the hardest working and most compassionate individuals with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work. We have a tough job to do, but we manage to have fun while doing it and when we’re able to engage and inspire others in the community by sharing our story and amazing results, that’s all the motivation I need to keep going!”
–Jeannine Orr, Corporate Relations Director
“Every year we host an internal giving campaign where I renew my gift to United Way of Salt Lake. This year I chose to become a Young Leader because I believe the work UWSL and our partners are engaged in will change the odds for entire communities. I have worked in the non-profit sector for over 15 years. I love working for a mission and being part of a team that wants to change the world, yet it wasn’t until UWSL became a Collective Impact organization that I felt like community level change was actually possible. The Collective Impact model is built on the knowledge that no organization working alone, in isolation, can solve complex community issues. It takes a united effort with shared goals and accountability to achieve large-scale, long-term social change. This work is not about us, it’s not about one person or organization. Rather it is about non-profits, schools, local and state government, businesses, religious communities, and community members coming together to make a change a reality.”
–Elizabeth Garbe, Public Policy Director
“In my position I get to see so many examples of selfless individuals in different companies that have chosen to give at the leadership level, and their examples inspire me to join them in their kindness. I am always amazed at the abundance of generosity people are capable of, and that generosity is infectious when you get to see it every day. I have also worked for a couple organizations that receive some of these funds from United Way of Salt Lake. I saw personally what these funds can do to change lives for the clients we served, and now that I work here and have seen what we’re doing to change entire communities, I had to increase my gift to the leadership level. So in all–people are the reason I give; people whose lives have been transformed by receiving help from these funds, or people who have set examples for our community of what it truly means to LIVE UNITED.”
–Drew Martinez, Resource Development Executive
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