A Weekly Note from Mayor Gary L. Graham
“Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking”
I am pleased to announce that the City’s 2006 United Way Campaign was a huge success. The City is fortunate to have so many caring employees and elected officials working for us. It is through their generosity that we were once again able to exceed our City goal and provide critical funding to the United Way and the agencies they serve.
This is the fourth year the City has conducted an active United Way Campaign and the focus again this year was one of education about what United Way is and how donations to the organization are used. The United Way of Greater St. Louis is a local, non-profit organization that serves nine Illinois counties, six Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis. In 2006 the United Way of Greater St. Louis donated nearly $3 million to 24 agencies that provide services in St. Clair County. Nearly ninety cents of every dollar donated goes directly to those agencies.
O’Fallon residents benefit from the many services that local United Way funded agencies provide. For example, the Okaw Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the River Bluffs Council of the Girl Scouts USA, the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois, the Illinois Center for Autism, the Southwestern Illinois Visiting Nurses Association, and the YMCA of Southwest Illinois all receive funding from the United Way. Without this important funding, many of these agencies would not be able to provide the number of programs nor the level of service that is currently provided.
The campaign ran October 2-13, 2006 and raised over $12,500. Several games and competitions were held that were designed to get employees involved in the campaign and interacting with their co-workers in a fun and friendly way.
Employees and elected officials who donated to the campaign and chose payroll deduction were eligible for a chance to win one of five grand prizes; a Re/Max hot air balloon ride, courtesy of the Holden’s; four Rams tickets, courtesy of Jim McEvilly; two Blues tickets, courtesy of Holland Construction Services; golf for four at Far Oaks, courtesy of Halloran Construction, or a paid day off.
A drawing was held on October 13th to award the various prizes. Mary Jeanne Hutchison from Parks & Recreation won the hot air balloon ride, John Betten from the Police Department won the Blues Hockey tickets, Jacob Smith from the Police Department won the Rams tickets, Andy Fleck from Parks & Recreation won the Golf for four at Far Oaks, and Dan Wunder from the Police Department won the paid day off.
Other prizes included a pool party at Memorial Pool; auto detailing from John’s Premium Car Wash; a press plate from the O’Fallon Progress; a $100 savings bond from Bank of O’Fallon; a $80 gift card from Garden Salon and Spa; a $50 gift card from Andria’s; a free trial at Gold’s Gym with $40 tanning from Tan Company and a 12 pack Absopure water; a cooler on wheels from Off We Go Travel; a DVD player from American TV & Appliances; a laptop case from OfficeMax; a free oil change at Valvoline; a party platter from Jimmy John’s; an oil change with 38 point inspection from Simons Auto Repair; car washes by City department heads; free tans at Tan Solutions with a 12 pack Absopure water; a $25 gift certificate from Steven Mueller Florist; a $25 gift certificate for photo finishing at Creve Coeur Camera; dinner
for two at Pizza Hut; half price dinner for two at O’Charley’s; a free haircut at Fantastic Sams; dinner for two at St. Louis Bread Company; a $20 gift card from Houlihan’s; a $20 gift card from Olive Garden; a $20 gift card from Prime Service Cleaners; a $20 gift card from IHOP; a $20 gift card from Applebee’s; and a cut and style from Janet’s Hair Design.
Other local business that donated prizes to the campaign include: Border’s Books, Chevy’s Fresh Mex, Cold Stone Creamery, Centerfield Park, Chili’s, Domino’s Pizza, Great Clips, Maui Onion Grill, Schiappa’s Restaurant, Steak ‘N Shake, The Coffeehouse Company, and Convenient Food Mart,
Thanks to great employee and elected official participation, the 2006 United Way campaign was a smashing success. I, along with campaign coordinators Pam Funk and April Mitchell want to sincerely thank O’Fallon individuals and businesses who donated prizes for the drawing as well as employees and elected officials who responded so generously with donations. This is yet another example of why O’Fallon is such a great community in which to live.
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