2014 Community Celebration: A Recap

by Mike Leonard, Campaign Relationship Manager

More than 400 friends and supporters of United Way of Pierce County attended the 2014 Community Celebrations on May 19th in beautiful downtown Tacoma. The Tacoma Convention Center was the perfect venue for this annual event, radiating the reception area with the glowing afternoon sun.

Outgoing Campaign Chair, Deb Young, HR Director from the City of Lakewood, welcomed guests and thanked the sponsors for making the evening possible.  With the financial support of The Boeing Company, Union Bank and Staging Techniques, 100 percent of the events costs were covered.

Young introduced new United Way of Pierce County President/CEO, Dona Ponepinto, who shared her story about United Way being deeply rooted in her family, from her dad’s annual pledge to her mom’s volunteer work, and finally her own 27 year career with United Way. Ponepinto shared her passion for United Way, and highlights of the United Way strategic plan. She thanked the corporate partners and employee donors, and closed with the quote, “Living United, we don’t do any of the work alone.”

Wayne Larkin, President and CEO of True Blue, spoke on behalf of 2013 Campaign Chair, Steve Cooper. Larkin spoke of the success of several corporate campaigns in 2013, and highlighted some of the campaign’s successes.  He explained how dollars raised through the company campaign stabilize families in Pierce County by connecting those in need with vital resources, helping families get out of crisis situations. Some of the successful campaigns that were highlighted include Korum Automotive Group, Coordinated Care, GEO Engineers, Nordstrom, Franciscan Health Care and TrueBlue. Larkin also had the pleasure of recognizing the City of Tacoma as the 2013 Campaign of the Year.

Dianna Kielian, Senior VP of Mission for Franciscan Health System, and incoming campaign chair for UWPC told a touching story about her childhood and how United Way helped her family during a time of crisis. “Not enough” her Dad would say as they drove by the Detroit Buick plant United Way Thermometer. You see, her dad had recently been laid off from the Buick Company, but was still committed to making his annual donation to United Way. He asked each of his children to dig through their piggy banks several times to help with the family’s United Way pledge knowing that United Way was there to support the family during that difficult 5 month period of unemployment. The gift of giving continues with Dianna to this day.

New United Way Board Chair Jamey McCormick spoke from the heart about how life has changed since the birth of his second daughter just 4 months ago. He spoke about starting points, and how all children starting at the same point in life, and how they grow is determined by family support. McCormick spoke about the importance of talking to children. He said that the success of his daughter starts at day one, and that every time he talks to her, he is helping her develop. He spoke of United Way’s efforts to focus on early learning, early grade excellence and strengthening families. McCormick also spoke about the need to break down barriers that families and children face every day in our community, and empower them to succeed.

Dona Ponepinto closed the celebration and spoke of how our partnerships with First 5 Fundamentals, Tacoma Children’s Museum, Mary Bridge, Lindquist Dental and Pierce County Libraries is shaping the way we care for and prepare our youngest citizens for school and life. Ponepinto said the she believes that investing in children will change their story to one of accomplishments and not challenges. She spoke of the barriers that stand in the way of families and children, and how we can work together as a community to find solutions to those barriers; “We can create lasting change by removing barriers so that families can be empowered to make lasting change.” Ponepinto closed with quote from one of her favorite children’s books, Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends.  “Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me. Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”