Cameron (New) – To meet the challenge of multiple locations, a team of campaign volunteers from all locations was recruited and trained following a tour at a United Way agency. Multiple meetings were held at all locations to cover every work shift, with United Way speakers sharing information about community issues. The campaign team asked employees who had personally benefited from United Way to share their stories.

ABS helped to educate employees by focusing on how United Way is helping hurricane victims and emphasized the importance of giving back to the community. That focus was brought to life when fellow employees from ABS™ sister office in New Orleans requested assistance be sent directly to United Way. They knew United Way would direct the money to those most affected by the storm.

Reliant Energy (New) hosted "brown bag" gatherings that featured a different goal area each day. United Way and agency speakers met with a group of employees to discuss the goal area of the day and how each did their part in addressing the issues surrounding each of the goal areas. It was very informative and gave employees a better understanding of how United Way works to change lives in the community.

Turbofab (New) held five meetings throughout the day so all employees could attend. Two meetings featured bilingual speakers for Spanish speaking employees. The meeting for night shift employees was bilingual as well, with the campaign coordinator acting as a translator. Participation and giving increased substantially.

Du Pont La Porte (New) held 19 meetings in three days. Employees watched the United Way campaign video and listened to different speakers who shared what employees' gifts have done for our community and how they can keep our community strong. Employees had an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about United Way.

KPMG LLP hosted its annual kickoff at the Rice Hotel. The event featured a presentation from the campaign chair highlighting campaign goals. Company leaders were present to speak and lend their support. United Way leadership, a beneficiary speaker and a representative of the Young Leaders program were on hand to educate employees about United Way. Prizes were offered as incentives and employees enjoyed refreshments.

Baylor College of Medicine (New) ran a "green campaign" using electronic communication that featured stories, facts and information downloaded from the Campaign Toolbox on United Way's Web site.

Turner Collie & Braden, L.L.P. scored big with a football pep-rally theme and generated much enthusiasm as the coordinator and team members dressed like referees and conducted various team competitions and sports trivia games. Prizes were awarded to the best teams/individuals, and fun was had by all making this a very memorable kickoff. The kickoff was held at four separate times on the same day so all staff could attend.

Memorial Hermann Hospital (New) included a "Pie the Exec" booth as part of the kickoffs held at several locations around town. Employees purchased tickets that gave them three chances to make a bull's eye. Participating executives wore surgical scrubs and goggles. Employees had fun throwing pie tins full of whipped cream and bidding on silent auction items. Proceeds benefited United Way. United Way campaign materials and pledge forms were available and employees were encouraged to turn in their pledge cards that day.

Leadership giving is the best way to grow your campaign. Following are some great ideas for hosting a leadership event at your company.

Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, appreciating the busy schedules of its attorneys, hosted a coffee hour at the firm that included a short presentation by the Community Campaign Chair and a Q&A session.This low-key effort helped boost the firm's leadership giving results.

Shell/Motiva (New) runs a three-week leadership giving campaign (called Pacesetter campaign) prior to the overall campaign kickoff. Leadership giving events are held at several major sites to make it easier for employees to attend. Company leaders, United Way representatives and beneficiary speakers are on hand to tell the United Way story and ask for leadership contributions. Results of the Pacesetter effort are announced at the employee kickoff, providing momentum to the overall effort.

BHP Billiton Petroleum (New) hosted a leadership luncheon for potential leadership donors. After watching a video highlighting the company's participation in Days of Caring activities, company leaders voiced their support for the campaign. United Way leaders were on hand to share messages about how leadership gifts can make an impact on people's lives. Afterwards, a question and answer session gave employees the opportunity to ask questions about how United Way helps in the community.

ExxonMobil (New) recognizes the impact of leadership giving on its campaign. In fact, the majority of ExxonMobil's employee contributions come from leadership giving. Most of the 20 internal divisions run a special leadership giving campaign that includes breakfast or lunch meetings featuring United Way speakers. Some groups hold smaller, peer-to-peer meetings that give employees the opportunity to ask questions in a comfortable setting. New in 2008, ExxonMobil held an after-work reception for Alexis de Tocqueville Society members and prospects. The company's Young Leaders initiative, which is modeled after United Way's Young Leaders program, includes a special kickoff, Meet the Leaders luncheons with top executives, and more. 

Comerica Bank (New) hosted an evening leadership giving reception at the Federal Reserve Bank Building. After the reception, employees were invited to attend a program featuring speakers from company leadership and United Way who talked about the impact a leadership gift can make. Following the program, employees were offered the chance to tour the bank's impressive facilities.

ExxonMobil's (New) culture of giving and community service through United Way begins at the top and sets an example that all employees can follow. Senior executives and top managers provided strong, visible leadership throughout the campaign. The company's campaign video contained messages of support and thanks from CEO Rex Tillerson as well as from United Way's President and CEO Anna Babin.

Kelsey Seybold's campaign coordinator, with input from top management, set campaign goals, followed with weekly updates, and shared beneficiary stories so employees knew the impact of their gifts. The campaign finished with a significant increase in employee giving and the highest total amount in five years.

Service Corporation International's (New) CEO and other senior executives visibly showed their strong support of the campaign. A senior management team member spoke at every employee meeting. Senior executives personally sponsored and led groups of employees during tours of United Way agencies. They also joined employees in many other campaign events, such as the Baseball-Themed Campaign Rally, Executive Dunk Tank, Wii Tournament, and Jeans Days.

Shell/Motiva (New) recruits hundreds of campaigners to maintain a personal touch during the campaign. Campaigners are trained at Shell/Motiva locations across the city, sometimes in conjunction with a tour at a nearby United Way agency. Campaigners share the United Way message, answer questions and ask their fellow employees to give.

Coca-Cola North America (New) had various planning meetings and shared past campaign numbers. The campaign chairman and his team set a goal and placed a thermometer that tracked results in front of the elevators where everyone could see it. Results were updated daily to sustain momentum.

Your United Way campaign should be a fun and memorable occasion. Here are some creative ways to make it happen at your company.

Quan, Burdette & Perez, P.C. attorneys led teams of associates to score points by pledging, going on agency tours, and answering United Way trivia questions correctly. At the end of the two week campaign, the two attorneys whose teams had the most points wrestled for final victory in sumo wrestling costumes.

CenterPoint Energy cast a line for United Way with a salt water fishing tournament in July before the campaign kicked off in September. Early bird teams started fishing at 5:30 a.m. and checked in by 3 p.m. to be eligible for several awards in various categories (largest fish caught by weight; longest fish caught; largest catch of four by weight, etc.). Teams included employees and their family members or groups of employees. Kids were welcome to compete as part of their employee parent’s team. The company secured sponsors to cover event costs. Sponsors also provided lots of door prizes (rods, reels, combination rod/reels, coolers, apparel, etc.).

Fluor exemplified the theme "United Way - Give Strong" by selling bracelets for $15, which, if worn, allowed employees to wear jeans to work on Fridays. This fundraiser was very effective in raising money for the campaign and in increasing awareness of United Way.

One Shell/Motiva (New) group holds an annual Chili/Gumbo cook-off event in the parking lot of its facility that benefits United Way. In addition to a cooking contest, employees can bid on silent auction items and dunk local executives in the dunking booth. Teams dressed up in themed attire with each booth highlighting a United Way program and staffed by a United Way representative.

Bank of Texas made a big splash with its "Dunk Your Banker" event. They sold hot dogs for lunch and the opportunity to pitch a ball and dunk an executive â€" they even included their customers in the fun!

Mariner Energy displayed the "Face of United Way" by holding a mask decorating contest. Employees submitted their entries and all employees voted on the best mask. This fundraiser allowed everyone an opportunity to interact on the topic of United Way.

One ExxonMobil (New) group held a Guitar Hero competition that was a huge hit with everyone. Employees competed in three brackets – easy, medium or hard/expert – and polished their "rock star" image at several pre-event practice sessions. Family members were encouraged to participate as players or be part of the viewing audience. Winners in the various categories received a trophy and bragging rights. A bosses tournament was included that featured two vice presidents and two managers playing against one another. An entry fee was not required to participate but most players and audience members made cash contributions to United Way or donated Gifts in Kind items. Everyone participated in a drawing for door prizes. No one wanted to miss cheering on their coworkers at the finals! A year later, employees are still talking about Guitar Hero and looking forward to doing it again.

A little thanks goes a long way. Wrap up a great campaign by recognizing and thanking everyone who helped make it a success.

Enbridge Energy Company (New) held its annual thank-you party in Bayou Place for all employees. Company and United Way representatives were on hand to join in the fun of live and silent auctions, performances by the executives, delicious food and other games and activities.

Shell/Motiva (New) thanks employees in various ways including an annual thank-you item (such as a mouse pad or novelty cup), as well as departmental thank-you events. The campaign team celebrated at an evening reception where company leaders recognized and thanked them and presented United Way with a ceremonial check.

ConocoPhillips (New) invited all employees to a special "cake reception" to celebrate record results. While employees enjoyed an assortment of delicious cakes, senior management was on hand to thank them and show appreciation for their strong support and to present awards for achievements in increased participation, total dollars raised and other categories. The event included a large backdrop that displayed the company's campaign theme, an enlargement of ConocoPhillips' results story that appeared on United Way's Web site, and a video showcasing employees and campaign activities.

Frost- Banking, Investments and Insurance (New) employed the campaign theme "Dancing with the Stars." The bank's five division managers formed their own dancing crews and had a dance face off during a two-hour celebration in front of all Houston/Galveston employees. The dance crews wore creative costumes and delighted employees with their performances. The CEO travelled from San Antonio to watch the competition and thank employees for giving back to their community. He recognized the work of the campaign chairman, the employee coordinators and the campaigners. This fun competition received a lot of publicity and created momentum about United Way.

Marathon Oil Corporation thanked employees at a party featuring a wide variety of desserts provided by their onsite caterer. After watching a video that featured company Day of Caring activities, employees heard from a speaker who personally benefited from United Way programs. Company and United Way leaders expressed their thanks and appreciation for everyone's support during the campaign. Afterwards, the company presented United Way with a ceremonial check for its results. Door prizes and silent auction winners were announced at the event's closing.

Worley Parsons (New) thanked employees with an American Idol themed party, including executives, with judges (dressed as Paula, Randy and Simon) and staff as contestants.