Campaign 2008


Campaign 2008

2008 Campaign results: $3.85 million

Sponsors	Donor Incentive Prizes	How to Donate
Financial Supporters	Campaign Materials	TV/Radio Ads
Programs Supported	Member Agencies	Loaned Executives
Campaign Cabinet	Other Campaigns	Awards

Why should you support United Way? (click to find out)

2008 Campaign Donors Win Thomas J. Watson Society Recognition

In 1914, Thomas J. Watson was named president of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co., an organization he had joined just a year earlier. It was a small company with its only plant at Endicott, New York. It had 235 employees at that time and sold a variety of business equipment including scales, time clocks, punch-card systems, and adding machines. But under Watson's leadership the organization grew. In 1923, it changed its name to International Business Machines Corp., and before Watson’s death in 1956, IBM became the leading company in the manufacturing of computers worldwide and had 60,000 employees at 200 offices and plants.

Watson also made an indelible mark on the Broome County community with his personal generosity. As a tribute to him, the Thomas J. Watson Society was established to recognize giving by the private and public sectors of the Broome County business community to support the health and human services funded by the United Way of Broome County. All business organizations contributing $10,000 or more in combined corporate and employee campaign gifts in a single year are eligible for membership.

There are four levels of recognition in the Thomas J. Watson Society:

The Platinum Award recognizes combined corporate and employee giving of $100,000 and above.
The Gold Award recognizes combined corporate and employee giving from $50,000 to $99,999.
The Silver Award recognizes combined corporate and employee giving from $25,000 to $49,999.
The Bronze Award honors combined corporate and employee giving from $10,000 to $24,999.

Click here for a complete list of the members of the Thomas J. Watson society for the 2008 Campaign.

2008 Campaign Volunteers Win Helping Hand Awards

Some of the volunteers who promoted the 2008 United Way Campaign within their organizations received awards at the United Way Awards/Thank You Reception held earlier this month.

The Helping Hand Award recognizes the exceptional leadership, inspiration, and dedication of a campaign volunteer. The award is based on the following criteria: commitment (supports the voluntary system of human services), creativity (thinks “out-of-the box,” originating new and often fun approaches, resulting in a successful campaign, volunteerism (has given years of service to the United Way Campaign and the community), inspiration (acts as a role model to others), and measurability (impacted positively on the outcome of the campaign).

The winners of the Helping Hand Awards for the 2008 Campaign are:
Joanne Aloi, Clear Channel Radio
Brigit Gault-Plate, Gault Chevrolet
Kathy Pfaffenbach, Catholic Social Services
Ron Skeels, Instron
Ken Spink, Endicott Interconnect Technologies
Shiela Sullivan, Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York
Margo Undercoffer, Susquehanna Valley Central Schools

2008 Campaign Achieves $3.85 Million

In a tough economic climate, United Way of Broome County has raised $3.85 million in its annual fund drive.

Campaign Chair Mark Capobianco said, “Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers, we have raised a significant amount of money to help the residents of Broome County during the coming year.”

United Way continues to be the largest distributor of donated funds to health and human services programs in Broome County. Donations from the 2008 Campaign will go to more than 100 programs in six areas of community service: assisting older adults; responding to emergencies, including fighting hunger and homelessness; strengthening families; promoting health and wellness; helping young people succeed; and building a stronger community.
The amount raised is 96 percent of the 2008 Campaign goal of $4.01 million.

There were many examples this year of increased giving to United Way by both employees and organizations this year. For example, seven organization reported increases of $5,000 or more: BAE Systems, Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Gault Motors, M&T Bank, Time Warner Cable, and NYSEG. Similarly, 27 new members were added to the George F. Johnson Leadership Society this year, which recognizes individuals pledging $1,000 or more to the United Way Campaign.

The residents of Broome County were served more than 150,000 times last year by United Way and its member agencies.

Although the 2008 Campaign has ended, contributions to United Way of Broome County received through the end of the January will be credited to this year’s fund drive and will be distributed with the other Campaign funds beginning early next year. Donations can be mailed to United Way of Broome County, P.O. Box 550, Binghamton, NY 13902-0550.

Campaign Goal Set at $4.01 Million

The goal for the 2008 Annual Campaign of United Way of Broome County is $4,010,000. This was announced on September 18 at the kickoff of United Way’s annual fund drive held at the Broome County YMCA in Binghamton. Campaign Chair Mark Capobianco made the announcement.

“There is no question that in the current economic environment, the goal is challenging,” said Capobianco. “But United Way staff and the Campaign Cabinet have developed a very comprehensive plan to take maximum advantage of opportunities that we believe are available.”

This year’s goal is about $9,500 more than the $4,000,487 raised in the 2007 Campaign. The 2008 United Way Campaign will run through November 14. The funds raised will be distributed to local member agencies and services, as well as grant recipients, in 2009.

Capobianco concluded the meeting by reminding everyone, “Underneath everything we are, underneath everything we do, we are all people--connected, interdependent, and united. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the conditional of all. That’s what it means to Live United.”

Campaign Chair and Cabinet Chosen

Mark A. Capobianco, superintendent of Vestal Central Schools, has been named Chair of the 2008 United Way of Broome County Campaign, the organization’s annual fund drive.

Capobianco was Associate Chair of the 2007 United Way fund drive and Education Division chair for the 2004 through 2006 fund drives. The 2008 Campaign will begin in mid-September and run through early November.

A resident of the Greater Binghamton area since 1989, Capobianco joined the Vestal Central School District that year as Director of Public Personnel Services. He advanced to the position of Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in 1996, and to his current position of Superintendent of Schools in 2001.

Capobianco earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at State University of New York College at Cortland in secondary social studies and a Master of Science degree at State University of New York College at Oswego in counseling services. Prior to coming to Vestal he taught at the Oswego County BOCES, worked as a school counselor for Port Byron Central Schools in Cayuga County, and in school administration for the Hannibal Central Schools in Oswego County Union Youth Soccer programs, as a member of the board of directors of Vestal Dollars for Scholars, the Vestal School Foundation, the Greater Binghamton Education Outreach Program, and St. Anthony’s Learning Center. He is also a member of the Vestal Rotary and the Broome Family Violence Prevention Council.

The other volunteers who will serve as leaders on the Campaign Cabinet also have been announced. Michael Mercincavage, Binghamton University, will serve as the Associate Chair. The six Vice Chairs are: David Culbertson, National Pipe and Plastics; Michael Klein, Broome County government; John Leet, WICZ - Fox 40; Thomas J. Meade Jr., Sunstream Corporation; David L. Neifer, Levene Gouldin & Thompson; and James Silkworth, Universal Instruments.

Division chairs include Jason Andrews, Windsor Central Schools; Allen Buyck, Broome-Tioga BOCES; Oliver N. Blaise III, Coughlin & Gerhart; Brian R. DeBoyace, Tioga State Bank; Cynthia Smith Gordineer, American Red Cross, Southern Tier Chapter; Joli Juodaitis, HealthNow New York; David Kwiatowski, M.D., Candor Family Care; Peggy Miller, Strategic Computer Solutions, Inc; Mario Petta, Macy’s Department Store; Leigh Ann Scheider, Broome County government; Linda Sebesta, United Health Services; Michael Wardell, Northwest Mutual Financial Network; and LoriAnne Welch, M&T Bank.

Gordineer also will represent United Way member agencies on the Campaign Cabinet. Jeffrey Shafer, D.V.M., Vestal Veterinary Hospital, will represent United Way’s Community Services Division, which is responsible for the allocation of the funds raised during the Campaign. Ann McNichols, United Way President, is an ex officio member of the Campaign Cabinet.

The funds raised in the 2008 United Way Campaign will be allocated to support community programs at 29 local member agencies and to Venture and Special Assistance Grant recipients in 2009.

Updated: March 9, 2009