United Way Campaign

The United Way of Santa Cruz County is in the business of creating lasting change to improve the overall quality of life in our community. The bottom line results, the lives we change, and the communities we shape - that's what matters

Medical and dental insurance for children; counseling; crisis intervention; emergency assistance; services for children, families, the homeless, the disabled and the elderly - what if, instead of choosing to help in just one of these areas - you were able to make a real impact in all of them? With one gift to the United Way of Santa Cruz County you choose to support programs and special initiatives that strengthen young people and families, improve health and wellness, help neighbors in crisis, support older adults and care for people with special physical or mental challenges.

United Way knows that people like you really want to make a difference in our community. And when you care for something as big as our community, you can't do it alone.

Together, we can do more than we can separately - right here at home.

The United Way of Santa Cruz County and Second Harvest ask that you go Above & Beyond this year with your United Way gift and make a difference in the lives of the 43,000 people Second Harvest serves each month. These children, working poor and seniors in need are currently served via their member network of 160 agencies and programs. Help Second Harvest expand and improve their facility to meet the current and future needs of our community by:

• Increasing freezer and refrigeration space so that donated food is not turned away
• Adding docks to efficiently unload and load trucks
• Adding pallet racks to easily store and stage food

To go Above & Beyond with your donation, all you need to do is complete the regular United Way pledge form. After you have designated your normal United Way donation (Section 2), check the box that says, "Yes I am going Above and Beyond" (Section 3) and indicate the amount of your increased gift to Second Harvest's Expansion Project. Every dollar you donate through Above & Beyond will be matched dollar for dollar by another generous donor.

This is an easy way to double the power of your gift, so that no one goes hungry. Thank you for your support!

For more information on Second Harvest's expansion project go to: http:www.thefoodbank.org/ep.html.

United Way Donor wins JetBlue Airways Prize On February 6th, 2008, the United Way of Santa Cruz County announced the winner of their community raffle drawing. The prize was two round trip tickets to anywhere that JetBlue Airways flys.

The lucky winner from among the thousands of entries is Lynol Elliott-Greenspon, an employee at Central Coast Alliance for Health in Scotts Valley.   Scott Fortner, HR Director, who led the campaign at the Alliance, noted that the whole organization is celebrating this special win.  “We are proud to participate in giving to our community through the United Way.”

All community members who donated to the United Way Community Fund through payroll deduction during the recent 2007 fundraising campaign were eligible to win.

“We so appreciate the participation of JetBlue Airways” said Chris Maffia, Vice President, Santa Cruz County Bank and this year’s United Way Campaign Chair. “Their prize was an exciting incentive and in the end, our whole community benefits from JetBlue’s generosity.”

The award will be officially acknowledged at the United Way’s campaign victory celebration on April 3, 2008 at the Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz.