Fox Valley United Way fundraising on track
Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez and Kendall County Sheriff Dick Randall got off to a quick start as co-chairs of the 2008-09 Fox Valley United Way fundraising campaign. Immediately after their introduction at a news conference, the two accepted a corporate contribution of $100,530.57 from The Caterpillar Foundation.
The contribution actually represents funds that match Caterpillar employee contributions to the 2007-08 Fox Valley United Way campaign, which wrapped up June 30, but Perez and Randall noted the importance of Caterpillar's support.
"More people than ever before in Kendall and Kane counties need help today," said Randall, Kendall County sheriff. "Especially with so much state and federal funding being cut, it is both important and gratifying when corporations such as Caterpillar and its employees step up in this manner."
Caterpillar, which hosted the news conference, is the largest corporate contributor to Fox Valley United Way. The contribution was presented to the sheriffs and Fox Valley United Way board chair Melinda James by Caterpillar's Jim Blass, general manager, U.S. Operations Division-Aurora.
"Cat's contribution is extremely important," Perez said. "We have too many hungry and homeless people in the Fox Valley - too many kids at risk, too many seniors needing assistance. The dollars Fox Valley United Way collects help ease a lot of hurt."
Blass noted that Caterpillar is a national United Way supporter, but pointed out that the Aurora-Montgomery facility actively supports the local United Way. Cat employees, for example, will enter at least two boats in Fox Valley United Way's "What Floats Your Cardboard Boat" race that annually kicks off the new campaign. This year's race is set for Saturday on Mastodon Lake in Aurora's Phillips Park. Festivities - including clowns, music, food and information tables from more than a dozen local social services agencies that Fox Valley United Way funds; a Provena Mercy wellness booth; and raffles for health center memberships - begin at 10 a.m. More than 500 people are expected to attend.
The funds Fox Valley United Way raises are disbursed to more than 50 human and health services agencies in Aurora, Big Rock, Bristol, Hinckley, Little Rock, Millbrook, Montgomery, Mooseheart, North Aurora, Oswego, Plano, Plattville, Sugar Grove and Yorkville. Fox Valley United Way was founded in 1922 as the Aurora Social Service Federation. The organization incorporated the United Way name and community tenets in 1972; smaller United Way organizations in Plano and Yorkville were merged into the then-renamed Fox Valley United Way in 2004. For details, visit www.uwfoxvalley.org.