Columbia State Bank in LIVE UNITED Shirts

AJ Prasad, Frank Bermudez, and Heidi Koenigsmann of Columbia State Bank took time out of a busy day for a photo shoot in their LIVE UNITED t-shirts.

Next up...customized posters for Columbia State Bank’s 2010 United Way campaign – running now through December.

Look for the real live AJ at 10735 NE Halsey, Frank at 223 NE 2nd Avenue in Canby, and Heidi at Columbia Bank Fox Tower at 805 SW Broadway, Suite 2700 downtown Portland.

Columbia State Bank Steps Up

Manager Ajnesh (AJ) Prasad and his team at Columbia State Bank truly know how to Live United.

In addition to their own workplace giving campaign, they invite bank customers to purchase paper "Live United" t-shirts to join in the campaign. In two days, customers donated over $35 at the teller windows. This photo is proof!

But don't take our word for it . . .

Visit Columbia Bank at 10735 NE Halsey to see for yourself and to meet this community-conscious team.

Pendleton Woolen Mills LIVES UNITED

If you haven't been downtown lately, you may have missed Pendleton store's window display. They're making a statement about how they LIVE UNITED!

Here's a heartwarming story from a Pendleton employee:

After the pledge forms were delivered with a copy of a letter about United Way from Mort III, one of Pendleton's employees wrote the following:

"I know first hand that there are many who do not see the sun shining or welcome the nip in the air. I just wanted to tell you that Pendleton's support for United Way really brings joy to my heart. It gives me a chance to give back for all that has been given to me. When I was growing up my parents had four small children, were very poor and suffered from drug addiction. We often lived under bridges, in campgrounds or in shacks with no running water or electricity. I remember often eating at shelters. Sometimes that would be the only meal that we had. The only time we got winter coats, shoes, or Christmas was through these community programs. I ended up leaving home when I was 15 thanks to another program called Job Corps. I graduated and moved to Portland when I was 17. Two days later I started temping for Pendleton and here I am many years later. Thanks to Pendleton and programs funded by United Way, my children will never have to go through any of the hardships that I did as a child. I just want to say THANK YOU for Pendleton's support."


A big thanks to Pendleton's 2010 United Way Committee: Catherine Austin, Cindi Coleman, Colleen Grant, Debi Mahoney, Jaime Bitle, Jayne Johansen, Linda Abercrombie, Paige Kvancz, Patty Stubblefield and Julie Strand

Intel 1st Annual Break Room Challenge

As part of their annual giving campaign, Intel employees organized the 1st Annual Break Room Challenge!

There were 3 tournaments running: Table Tennis, Foosball and Wii Tennis.

MDG United Way Break Room Championship Finals were tough battles:

Table Tennis at 12:00 PM (Best of 5 games)
Wayne O’Neil v. Avinash Chandrasekaran

Wii Tennis at 12:20 PM (Best of 5 games)
Andy Carle v. Navin Mohan

Foosball at 12:40 PM (Best of 3 games)
Clark Brooks v. Van Trinh

And the winners were: Avinash, Andy and Van! Congrats winners and a big thanks to Intel!

PCC Students4Giving Project Video

Please take 8 minutes of your time to view this outstanding video produced by Portland Community College's Campus Compact Students4Giving Project. This video captured an entire semester of work completed by a Non-Profit Grant Making class taught by Lead Business Instructor Cynthia Killingsworth.

The work involved student fundraising that was matched by dollars from the PCC Foundation, development of funding priorities and criteria that were used as the basis for solicitation of grant proposals, grant review and a ceremony awarding grants to successful applicants.

I have yet to see a more successful approach in teaching students about the value of making a contribution to the community and the challenges of making funding choices.

Please join me in thanking PCC and the Students4Giving Program in setting a such high leadership standard for community giving and Living United.

http://www.pcc.edu/resources/service-learning/students4giving/video.html

- Howard Klink
VP Community Investment and Mobilization
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

Johnson Controls Battery Group Presented with the 2009 Best in County Award

This week United Way of the Columbia-Willamette presented the Best in County Award for Clackamas County to Johnson Controls Battery Group Inc at the Canby Chamber of Commerce meeting at Cutsforth’s Thriftway.

The award was presented by Howard Klink, VP of Community Investment and Mobilization (left) and Jeff Zawada, Senior Manager for New Business Partnerships and Initiatives (second from left) with United Way.

The recognition honors the giving level of the company in last year’s Annual Giving Campaign to United Way and was accepted by Allie Conner (second from right) and Mark McAndrew (right) of Johnson Controls Battery Group Inc. The company raised $24,000 for the community in the last giving campaign.

A big thanks to Johnson Controlls Battery Group!

GE Healthcare Kicks Off Their 2010 Campaign with a Little Halloween Spirit

GE Healthcare spiced up their 2010 United Way workplace giving campaign with a little Halloween fun. About 50 employees gathered for a Halloween ‘best costume’ and ‘best potluck dish’ event, complete with prizes, to kick off this year's campaign.

GE Healthcare IT participates in both United Way workplace giving and ICare volunteer projects in the Hillsboro community. The event was organized by Siran Abtin, Campaign Coordinator and coordinated by Jan Copper-Moren, Purchasing and Facilities Agent.