Kevin Reilly, former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker, speaks at United Way kickoff

The corporate 2007 United Way Campaign's theme this year was "Touchdown for United Way."  The campaign was kicked off by a Football Rally at the Plaza.  Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and radio personality Kevin Reilly was the guest speaker. Reilly, who lost his left arm and shoulder to a rare scar tissue tumor in 1979, is an inspiring speaker and shared his personal experience with the audience. Part of his story was featured in an article "No time to take it slow" in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The campaign was a great success.  The "football" portion of the campaign raised an additional $8,051 for United Way.  Together with the donations of employees and retirees in Wilmington and the corporate contribution, approximately $238,000 was given to the United Way of Delaware.         

This year, three tenants at the Plaza--Conde Nast, Potter, Anderson & Caroon, and Visa--joined in the fun portion of the campaign.  The "football players" consisted of senior executives taking the field - see chart below. Tickets were $1.00 and the "betting" was open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Plaza during lunch hours. Corporate incentives for winning tickets this year included 50 half-day vacations. Departments who had 100% participation in the United Way campaign were treated to a pizza party.

Several of the "players" added creative and extremely generous incentives of their own, including  gift certificates for restaurants and shopping; tickets to major sports events; parking passes; spa packages; flatscreen TVs; Surround Sound System; 60,000  USAir miles; a Dell Notebook and an autographed Randall Cunningham football.  Betting was heavy, competition intense, and weekly bulletins were sent out noting the progress of the game.

Ceo Craig Rogerson and Linda Rudnick announce the winners

The Closing Tailgate Party included hotdogs, soft pretzels and sodas and a lot of happy winners.  A tremendous "touchdown" for a great cause. 

 

Congratulations to the 2007 United Way Team:

Linda Rudnick, Bill Mahon, Mike Hassman and Rich Truskowlawski - Creative minds behind "Touchdown for United Way"
Brian McGrath, Todd Trexler and Steve Cronin - Plaza Campaign Coordinators
Terry Cordrey, Steve Prescott, Maneesha Altekar, Maureen Donavon - Research Center Campaign Coordinators

Thanks also to the senior management team for their enthusiastic support; department captains who solicited pledge forms; and the many volunteers who worked "behind the scenes" to make this campaign a success.