Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has again recorded very healthy gains in their 2010 United Way campaign. Thoughtful strategic planning and effective implementation by Carrie Beck, Highmark's Employee Campaign Manager, and her team resulted in increased participation and a total of $721,221 in employee and special events contributions. Add to that a corporate gift of $697,980, and Highmark proudly posts a campaign totaling $1,419,201!

United Way support from top management is key to the campaign's success. Dr. Kenneth R. Melani, Highmark's President and Chief Executive Officer, not only endorsed the campaign, but also served as a member of the 2010 United Way of Allegheny County Campaign Cabinet. Deborah Rice, Highmark's Executive Vice President of Health Services, serves on the United Way Board of Directors and the United Way Impact Fund Cabinet.

Special events are always a popular element of the Highmark campaign. The crowd-pleasing Highmark's Got Talent and Basketmania, along with Lunch Like a Celebrity, the holiday decorating contest, jeans days, the tennis shoes incentive, raffles and bi-weekly drawings added to the bottom line of this successful fund raising strategy.

Leadership giving constitutes 56 percent of the campaign total thanks to a strong drive by Beth Farbacher, Highmark's Executive Vice President, Chief Auditor, Compliance Officer and United Way Leadership chair. Nine Tocqueville gifts of $10,000 or greater helped to boost the Leadership drive.

Congratulations Highmark, for another award-winning campaign.

First-time campaign chair Rob DeMichiei, Employee Campaign Manager (ECM) Bahar Bazmi, and the entire UPMC campaign committee, revamped the campaign structure, leading to substantial gains across the board. The new structure, consisting of an executive committee, business unit chairs, ECMs, and champions, proved to be incredibly successful. Gains realized were: a 22 percent increase in employee dollars, a phenomenal jump from 9 to 24 percent participation, additional Leadership dollars, and an increase in the corporate gift led to a UPMC campaign total of $1,472,135!

The campaign theme, "We can still care when they leave our care," animated every aspect of the campaign. Special events and enhanced communications were an integral part of this effort. Raffles and drawings, Days of Caring projects, and video testimonials from UPMC staff that had benefited from United Way-funded programs kept the campaign's messaging relevant and continuous.

A campaign this successful requires a superb team effort. Besides an extensive campaign committee, Bahar had the support of top executives. As executive sponsor of the campaign, Rob DeMichiei was deeply involved in the planning and execution of campaign strategies. His support extended to the United Way Board of Directors, of which he is a member. Scott Lammie and Loren H. Roth, MD, MPH, serve on the United Way Impact Fund Cabinet and are also active members of the Tocqueville Society. Diane Holder, United Way Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) co-chair, hosted a WLI reception for women at UPMC.

UPMC employees are generous with their time as well as their money. UPMC was one of 11 organizations honored with a Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award. The award recognized UPMC staff's participation in the Be a 6th Grade Mentor and EITC Tax Preparation volunteer initiatives.

Thanks to President and CEO Jeffery Romoff, Rob DeMichiei, Bahar Bazmi and all UPMC employees for your support. Your generosity will be life-changing for many people in need in our community.