United Way Starts Its Annual Fundraising Campaign

By Jan Howard

The United Way of Northern Fairfield County kicked off its annual fundraising campaign Thursday, September 13 with the help and expertise of several Newtown volunteers.

The United Way supports services of local agencies that address the needs of residents in seven area communities, Newtown, Danbury, Brookfield, Bethel, Redding, Ridgefield, and New Fairfield. In 2000, over 30 agencies received funding for programs, including Family Counseling Center and Newtown Youth Services.

The campaign started Thursday with a kick-off breakfast followed by a Day of Caring during which 500 volunteers from 28 area companies spent the day helping out with chores at local non-profit agencies. They participated in various activities, such as yard work, gardening, painting, reading to the elderly, and “a myriad of things,” according to Judy Rosentel, a 15-year resident of Newtown who became the United Way’s marketing associate two weeks ago. She has been a volunteer with United Way for many years, and was previously employed for three months as a loaned executive, speaking to local companies about the United Way and meeting with company coordinators. She is actively involved in Newtown with Meals on Wheels, Band Parents, Newtown Fund, and was formerly a president of the Newtown Junior Women’s Club.

The Day of Caring shows the volunteers where their money is going, Mrs Rosentel noted.

In Newtown, employees of the Newtown Savings Bank helped out with painting at the Family Counseling Center. 

The goal of the fundraising campaign this year is $3.5 million, a five percent increase from last year, which exceeded its goal of $3,300,100 by raising $3,345,000, according to Marty Milkovic, president of United Way. “The goal was 100 times our first campaign goal in 1940,” he said.

“Every year we do better,” Mrs Rosentel said.

Leading the fundraising campaign this year is John Martocci of Newtown, president of the Newtown Saving Bank and member of the United Way Board of Directors. Tony Pajk of Newtown, the president and CEO of Branson Ultrasonics, a member of the board, serves as vice chairman.

Mr Milkovic said it is the responsibility of the chairman to put together a Campaign Cabinet of 16 people to run the fundraising campaign at the corporate and business level.

Newtown residents serving on the 2001 Campaign Cabinet are Alan J. Clavette, Beth Ann Fetzer, and Donna Ramey.

Each person on the Campaign Cabinet has responsibilities to contact local companies, Mr Martocci said. The group meets monthly at Edmond Town Hall to discuss how things are progressing in regard to fundraising. If any members are having difficulty in making contact, “I help them get in the door,” he said.

“As a team we want to get people to commit to running a campaign that will result in the highest yield for the United Way,” Mr Martocci said.

Mr Martocci has been a member of the board for two years. He served as campaign vice chairman last year. “The vice chairman becomes chairman of the next year’s campaign,” he explained.

“We knew John would be an excellent chairman just from his reputation in the community,” Mr Milkovic said.

“I believe in being involved in the community,” Mr Martocci said. “I’ve been involved in United Way in different parts of the state. United Way reaches every part of the community. It reaches so far. It’s a great way to give back to the community though I didn’t think I’d be chairman in my second year. The staff does a great job and makes my job easy.”

Mr Martocci is planning to run in the GE Capital, Vendor Financial Services road race September 20 that donates 100 percent of the money raised to the United Way. “My message to the winner is ‘Don’t go home ‘til I finish,’” he added, laughing.

Mr Pajk has been a member of United Way’s Campaign Cabinet since 1998 and was previously involved in a $50 million fundraising campaign for the Greater Cleveland area in Ohio. He said he expects to be following Mr Martocci around and acting on his behalf plus preparing for next year’s campaign, which he will chair.

“It’s a great way to get involved in the community,” Mr Pajk said. He is also involved in the School and Business Collaborative in Danbury, a mentoring group between businesses and the schools.

“If you’re going to give a hand, go into a group that works well,” Mr Pajk said. “United Way is a tight-run ship. The dollars raised go to people who need it. It’s the right organization to be involved in.”

Late in 1998, United Way conducted a Priority Study to determine the highest critical needs of the seven local communities, which were basic human needs, mental health and counseling, health services, safety and protection, childcare, substance abuse services, and strengthening families and the community.

“People think it’s a Danbury problem,” Jennifer Toussaint, director of resource development, said. “We have statistics of the number of people from all the towns that are served by these agencies.”

“The agencies are located in Danbury for use by people of all the towns,” Mrs Rosentel said.

 Through its Community Fund grant program, United Way identifies and supports health and human service programs within local nonprofit agencies that provide these services.

The fundraising campaign is phase one of the process. In the second phase, programs seeking United Way funding are reviewed by a panel of volunteers. All agencies are visited and financial information as well as operating information is reviewed, according to Mr Martocci. “They decide who gets how much money,” he noted.

The panel members then explain their decisions to the board of directors, which makes the ultimate decision. The board looks at need, availability of services, responsibility, and effectiveness of the organization in making its decision, Mr Milkovic said.

The board has implemented an outcomes measurement process through which it measures the benefits participants gain, he said. The agencies must identify and track how the program has an impact. “The tendency in human services is to help, but donors want to see results.”

Mr Milkovic said there are over 500 charities in the Greater Danbury area. Outcomes measurement helps determine which will receive United Way funding.

“Last year there were over $250,000 in requests that we couldn’t fill,” Mr Martocci said.

In addition to Mr Martocci and Mr Pajk, Newtown residents that serve on the United Way Board of Directors are Rich Gumbrecht, Bill Hart, Donna Ramey, Richard Recht, and Steve Rosentel, a former chairman of the board.

Over 200 companies and individuals in the seven towns support the United Way, for a total of 17,000 donors. Eighty-five percent of the donations are made through payroll deductions.

The Leadership Giving Association is comprised of about 25 contributors of $1,000 or more to United Way. Four Newtown residents have given $10,000 or more. A reception in honor of these contributors will be held on October 11 at the Ridgewood Country Club.

Newtown businesses that contributed to the 2000 United Way campaign were Clavette Josselyn & Co., LLC; Connecticut Light & Power; Curtis Packaging; Dresser Industries; Hubbell Plastics; Kendro Laboratory Products; Newtown Public Schools; Newtown Savings Bank; People’s Bank; Rand Whitney; Sonics and Materials, Inc.; Stop & Shop; Taunton Press; TJ Maxx; Pitney Bowes; and Big Y Supermarket.

United Way of Northern Fairfield County is located on West Street in Danbury.