United Way Silicon Valley Sets $15 Million Goal For Annual Fundraising Campaign; Intel, Space Systems/Loral Among Local Companies Matching Employee Contributions.

Business & News Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2002

United Way Silicon Valley is well on its way to achieving a substantial increase in giving "despite one of the worst economic downturns in the Valley's history."

Speaking to more than 300 volunteers, campaign coordinators and representatives of member agencies at the annual kickoff event last week, Campaign Chairman Joe Natoli announced that UWSV had set an ambitious objective of $15 million for its 2002-2003 campaign.

"It is a tough objective, but do-able," Natoli told the audience at Great America's Paramount Pavilion, "and when we do it, we will have achieved a four percent increase in overall giving despite one of the worst economic downturns in the Valley's history."

Mark Walker, UWSV's President & CEO, said this year's campaign is the first in a number of years to have a volunteer-led campaign cabinet. "Volunteer leadership is crucial to the success of workplace campaigns," said Walker. "I am pleased that Joe Natoli is leading our efforts to engage community leaders in the success of our campaign. Through these efforts, we will help our health and human services member agencies meet the needs of thousands of our friends and neighbors."

Natoli, President and Publisher of the San Jose Mercury News, told the crowd that, thanks to pacesetter campaigns (campaigns conducted and completed prior to the start of the traditional campaign period) and to heightened participation by a number of area companies, UWSV already had nearly $2 million in pledges by the time the campaign officially began. He singled out three organizations for special recognition:

Space Systems/Loral, despite workforce reductions, achieved an increase in overall employee giving and also increased its corporate gift.

Estrella Family Services, a United Way member agency, completed its pacesetter campaign with a strong increase over last year.

Intel Corporation, which already conducts one of the most successful campaigns in the Valley, will for the first time do a dollar-for-dollar match of employee contributions.

*Digital photos available on request.

Established in 1922, United Way Silicon Valley is a non-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of community and business leaders. Its mission is to improve people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community. UWSV does that by working with and through 100 Santa Clara County health and human services agencies that assist more than one million people annually.