The United Way Community Campaign 2024

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Pulse of the Region, brought to you by
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(00:48):
dot org. Now here's your host for Pulse of the Region,
Kate Bawman.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Hello, Hello, and welcome to Pulse of the Region, the
show where we get to highlight all of the wonderful
things that are happening here throughout the greater Hartford Region.
I'm your host, Kate Allman here today in the iHeartMedia
Studios with our guests. I will preface that we are
recording today on Halloween, and I only say that because
when if you see photos of this and here a

(01:13):
little bit, we have some special guests I guess here
joining the show, as we always have special guests, but
today even dressed a little special, which is exciting. But
today we are getting the pulse about this year's United
Way Community campaign and how the business community is getting
involved in a lot of very unique ways. So thrilled
to have this conversation and thrilled to have our guests

(01:33):
and show today. First is I will introduce him. I
guess by his day job. It is Eric Harrison. He
is the President and CEO of the United Way of
Central and Northeastern Connecticut. And also today I'm gonna call
him Scooby Doo. I think that's appropriate, right.

Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, my son's going to be Scooby Doo coming to
our staff party later.

Speaker 4 (01:52):
And I'm Fred.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
Oh, yes, you're Fred, that's right, Eric, s Yes, well, Eric,
welcome back to.

Speaker 5 (01:58):
Polls of the Region.

Speaker 4 (01:59):
Thank you God be here again.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Fantastic, It's wonderful to have you Fred aka Eric and
our other guest who is not dressed up.

Speaker 5 (02:06):
Neither am I. So I guess we're both the lame
ones of the group today.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
But we welcome Jim o'mira who he is the senior
managing director at Webster Bank and he is also the
chair of United Ways twenty twenty four community campaign.

Speaker 5 (02:19):
Jim, welcome to the show.

Speaker 6 (02:20):
Thank you for having us that. I appreciate it.

Speaker 5 (02:22):
Of course.

Speaker 2 (02:23):
Of course, so love to do introductions as we kick
things off, and I think there's no need for introduction
for the United Way, but maybe a reintroduction or a refresher.
So Eric, if you talk a little bit about the
United Way of Central and northeastern Connecticut.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah, I was going to just mention where our position
is in the state and in the New England region,
because I think that's kind of interesting information for folks.
Don't definitely both that. So, Connecticut actually has fourteen local
United Ways. Ours is the largest in the state next
to Boston, and the state of Rhode Island actually has
its own, so we're actually the third largest in New England.

Speaker 5 (02:59):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
So we cover fifty two townships across that whole eight
six to so region and it's just been a really
exciting time.

Speaker 4 (03:06):
You know, I started in.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
Twenty twenty two, and we've been really working hard on
really preparing for this moment. This is our centennial year
twenty twenty four. We've been doing a lot of strategic planning,
community design sessions around issue areas of child literacy, wages, housing,
and life expectancy. And it's just been great to see
all those partners that have been with us for you know,

(03:28):
decades that are now coming together and really just you know,
working together for collective action to make this region great, fantastic.

Speaker 2 (03:35):
I'm wondering, has anyone been there of the fall hundred
years as a supporter.

Speaker 5 (03:40):
Yes, I'm going to guess yes.

Speaker 6 (03:41):
Yes.

Speaker 3 (03:41):
So our first partner was the Women's League here in Hartford,
and there's still one of our partners today and they
provide childcare in the north end of Hartford. So yes,
they were our first agency and they're still with us,
which is pretty remarkable.

Speaker 5 (03:55):
Look at that. All right, we shu to do another
show as well.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yes, I will mention because I think it's poor important.
We had three founding companies of the United Way in
nineteen twenty four, and two of those are two of
our biggest supports as well. HSB and also Conning look
at that still with us very.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
Neats look on that talk about that's a good and
a good supporter, so fantastic. And Jim would love if
you could share a little bit about just your involvement
with a United Way and really kind of you know
what shows you to take on this leadership role, I
believe again this year.

Speaker 7 (04:26):
Yeah, well so I'll tell you why. First of all,
you don't say no to Eric and the team. That's
they're they're amazing people doing an amazing work in our community.
I just to provide some context. I guess I was
first introduced to unit away some thirty years ago during
the community campaign you know, talked very timely, of course,
and I'll admit that in the early stage I was
kind of that check the box supporter right year and

(04:48):
year out support and the cause high degree of confidence
that United Way was putting my treasure, if you will,
to good work.

Speaker 6 (04:55):
But I didn't really have a full.

Speaker 7 (04:58):
Appreciation for the skill and the impact that the organization
has on our community. So and I didn't get that
until some twenty years later when I had the opportunity
to serve as Webster's community campaign share so, and it's
it was during that time when I had the opportunity
to visit our partner agencies that are just talked about
and really get an understanding of the programs that are

(05:20):
that are run through our United Way where I had.

Speaker 6 (05:22):
My AHA moment.

Speaker 7 (05:24):
Okay, I called my AHA moment because you know I
growing up, I was a member of ANALYS household. Now
we didn't have asset limited income constrained employee, just to
remind the audience, but you know, we didn't have the
fancy acronym for it back then, but I know that
that's the household that grew up in and and in
listening to the two on one calls and being part

(05:44):
of the organizations that we were visiting, I could see
myself back as a ten, eleven, twelve year old and
hearing those calls.

Speaker 6 (05:52):
On the other end, knowing that we were on that
other end of the phone.

Speaker 7 (05:55):
So it's that AHA moment that gave me a true understanding.
And I help people all the time. So you don't
know who's getting that hand up. It could be a neighbor,
it could be a friend, it could be a family member,
or as it is my case, it could be you
that's and that's why really I've been in this for
a decade plus now with this specific organization, it was

(06:17):
a distinct honor to serve as are United Ways Board
of Directors chair from twenty seventeen to eighteen. I'm on
the Executive Committee and the board still and when they
asked me to service Campaign Share again, I said, yes, absolutely, fantastic.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
No, that's wonderful And certainly so many ways that the
United Way is you know, partnering with the business community.
But as you touched on, Jim, a great exposure for
many individuals I think has been the community campaign and
you know, so Eric, have you talk a little bit
more And for those who may not know about what
the community campaign is, is kind of explain that to everybody.

Speaker 3 (06:52):
So the annual community campaign is you know, kicks off
typically in the fall, and so we have a number
of workplaces that do these campaigns annually, just like Webster
Bank is one of our supporters where where Jim is from.
But I'll also say that in addition to those workplace campaigns,
we've really met companies where they are so different companies have.

Speaker 4 (07:12):
Different corporate social responsibility goals.

Speaker 3 (07:16):
Different companies have goals you know, say more aligned with
volunteer engagement and getting out with community projects, so.

Speaker 4 (07:22):
We provide those as well.

Speaker 3 (07:24):
So there are a variety of ways that companies get
involved with us, so it doesn't have to be you know,
kind of a one stop relationship. So we're really looking
at what that comprehensive relationship looks like. And I also say,
you know, historically the community campaign has been that kind
of fall time period, but now we're meeting companies year round.

(07:45):
So we have a program called Age sixty Cares, which
is a way that we can you know, really engage
the companies any time of the year in different types
of projects are giving and you know, you don't have
to be with a workplace that does a workplace campaign
to get engaged or donate teen eyed way, you can
set that up anytime on our website and just do

(08:05):
that monthly or a one time gift. So, you know,
we have to evolve with the times, right it's now
twenty twenty four, it's not nineteen twenty four, and I
think we're doing a really good job of that. And
we're just you know, constantly trying to evolve and be
very innovative and how we engage with corporations.

Speaker 2 (08:23):
Here definitely, and that's something I certainly want to touch
on as some of that innovation and uniqueness that companies
are kind of, you know, bringing their own creative spirit
to donating and to giving. So but Jim would love
to hear it from you first, just kind of what
can companies expect, you know, this year if they're looking
to get involved with a campaign this fall.

Speaker 7 (08:41):
Yeah, and I think Eric alluded to it really nicely.
United Way is really transforming those relationships we've held with
companies over the years. I think you can expect more
involvement and engagement from our United Way, you know, from
the team that are going to support you and achieving
your philanthropicals as a company number one. You know, I'm
seeing this firsthand at Webster two. You can expect a deeper,

(09:04):
more narrow focus from United Way as we work to
close those gaps in child literacy, wages, housing and life
expectancy so everybody in this eight six zero region can thrive,
right and it's all around together. We're absolutely committing committed
to ending poverty and addressing these issues, and United Way

(09:24):
is really intentional and doing this across all of our network, right,
all of our work that we do, including this community campaign.

Speaker 5 (09:32):
Fantastic, extremely well said Jim.

Speaker 2 (09:34):
And you want to touch a little bit, you know,
mentioned with Webster Bank and Eric a touch on how
Webster Bank's been a huge supporter and you know they've
also supported you kind of throughout this journey. If you
could talk a little bit about that experience.

Speaker 7 (09:46):
Yeah, I appreciate that question, I really do. I've been
truly blessed over the last twenty plus years with Webster.
It is a company that puts community first. United Way
has been Webster's primarily mary philanthropy since our founding in
nineteen thirty five.

Speaker 6 (10:02):
And if you think about it, that's ninety of the
one hundred years.

Speaker 7 (10:05):
So while we weren't around for the first ten, we've
made a lot of work at the last ninety.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
Quickly, I'm gonna say, we're gonna list you in the time.

Speaker 7 (10:12):
Well, okay, I appreciate that. I mean, I know the
team will be appreciative of that. And it's really not
by accident. Right. We believe to our core that the
health of any organization is so intertwined with the health
and welfare of our communities. Right, So, and I follow
in very large footprints here and I know that and
I appreciate that. In the last quarter of century, two

(10:33):
other Webster leaders have served as this campaign chair, namely
Jim Smith and Joe Savage. It is just in our
DNA as people and as an organization. So the whole
community involvement, I mean, it's really embedded in our core values, right,
It's who we are. We feel it's our responsibility to
give our time, our talent, our treasure in the communities

(10:55):
where we live and work. And you know, I know
we've been talking about engagement a lot, so I think
it's important to kind of expound on that a little
bit more. We're at a you know, we're coming out
of a period of history where we've struggled keeping kind
of our connectivity with our teams right and getting them
back engaged. And what we've really found at Webster is

(11:16):
the campaign has been a real galvanizing force in bringing
people back together, definitely right in person, through fundraising activities
and volunteer events. The engagement that we're seeing across the
company is kind of like a rebirth of corporate culture.
So I put that out there to our companies that
may be listening today to use this as an incredible

(11:36):
opportunity to get your team engaged.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
So thank you so much for bringing that up, Jim,
because I was thinking the same thing where certainly during
the pandemic, companies need to take a step back, and
mainly that was just because you're working from home and
it's a different environment, and unfortunately other priorities came first,
which weather that's right, wrong and different just you know,
kind of naturally happened. And so I think a wonderful
time for companies to re engage. And I think you're

(11:59):
seeing to and also you know, look to experience new
ways of connecting. And you know, Eric would love if
you could talk a little bit just on how companies
who maybe have worked with Unitedway in the past or
are working with the United Way, but could look at
kind of some new new ways of getting involved this
time around.

Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (12:15):
So we actually we have an incredible digital team at
United Way, so we're really looking at mobile campaigns with
in corporation.

Speaker 4 (12:23):
So outside of payroll deduction, you know, how.

Speaker 3 (12:25):
Do you you know, get get individuals engaged in mobile
giving campaigns? And I know we have companies that are
that that that trajectory in terms of that engagement with
employees is really taking off nice.

Speaker 4 (12:37):
So it doesn't mean that.

Speaker 3 (12:39):
You know, you have to do it just with kind
of a traditional United Away campaign, but there are new
ways of digital engagement that we're really exploring and getting
really successful. So you also want to have employees that,
you know, like you were saying, you know, kind of
after the pandemic, you know, be to be able to
do it just from their house right and not not
have to be you know, physically in the office to

(13:00):
be engaged kind of in the pomp and circumstance of
all those special events. But we do lots of those
took and I will say one of our top events
special events both with our United Way because we actually
do an internal campaign ourselves, is ques Pet Contest, And
you'd be surprised how much money that raise raises because people,
you know, it doesn't matter what the topic is. People

(13:23):
you know ultimately are competitive and it's kind of great,
you know, kind of lean lean into that competition to
to raise funds for the community, which is pretty exciting.
But you know, obviously in the fall, we have lots
of golf tournaments. We have a great golf tournament that
we do with r t X raytheon every year.

Speaker 4 (13:39):
So that's really exciting.

Speaker 3 (13:42):
And then you know, there's there's lots of other ways
that we do, like I was saying before, just very
unique tailored volunteer engagement projects throughout the year and so
those are really exciting, and just just to listen to
the company is like what like I said before, meet
them where they are, what works best for your you
know culture, or that we can tailor towards you know,
your corporate social responsibility goals.

Speaker 2 (14:04):
That's great, and you've mentioned kind of a few examples.
I don't know if there's anything you know, another example
that you could share as sort of you know, a
standout kind of program that you've launched with a company.

Speaker 3 (14:15):
Well, certainly eight six O cares because as I said before,
you know, I think we were very kind of transactional
in terms of our our giving season was fall. Okay,
so that's sort of you know three sixty for the
eight sixty. Maybe that's a new.

Speaker 5 (14:33):
Term, I'll say, Yeah, like a T shirt.

Speaker 3 (14:35):
Engagement is important because you know we're looking at you know,
projects and engagement opportunities you know in May, in June,
you know, things that are preparing kids to go back
to school throughout the summer, you know, volunteer reading engagement
projects we do, you know, big kickoffs with the Hartford
Public Schools and East Hartford Public Schools with Read for

(14:56):
the Record and Read across America day in the spring.

Speaker 4 (14:59):
So I think it's just you know, it keeps.

Speaker 3 (15:01):
Our team busy for sure, right, But but we we
have to have that sort of you know, year round
relationship with companies and really understand what works best for
them and not not necessarily our schedule as we did
in the past.

Speaker 2 (15:14):
Right, No, definitely, And you know, and with that too
is you know, there's many different great community organizations throughout
the throughout the greater business community here. But you know,
really United Way is certainly special because too, you're working
with so many different organizations. And Jim Love, if you
could kind of expand a little bit too on just
kind of why United Way as companies may look to
partner with organizations or you know, look for charity opportunities.

Speaker 7 (15:37):
Yeah, I guess let me let me just for me,
it's very simple, right. First of all, in my own
personal experience, I found my personal connection, right, and it's
easy to find your personal connection and the work that
Unit Away does and our people's passions and their philanthropic
focus is constantly evolving. We've there are no shortage, shortages

(15:58):
of opportunities out there to support, to give, to volunteer
with different organizations. So I believe it's you know, it's
critical that we find our personal connections and everything we
do and all the causes we take on.

Speaker 6 (16:09):
So that's for me personally, and that's where I found it.

Speaker 7 (16:12):
Second, I think I think for this United Way in particular,
I believed my core that there's no other organization more
committed to and equipped for marshaling the resources to address
the very real challenges that we're facing today in our region.
And these challenges is we know very well know have

(16:33):
changed over time that our United Way has also.

Speaker 6 (16:36):
Adapted along the way.

Speaker 7 (16:37):
And that's and it's it's not by luck that we've
been at the center of the eight six zero region
for the last one hundred years and will be for
the next one hundred and more to come.

Speaker 2 (16:49):
Definitely, No, Again, extremely well said, and I think kind
of a pillar here in our communities too, not only
for the business community, for the community, but then also
for a nonprofit community too.

Speaker 5 (16:59):
And supporting.

Speaker 2 (17:01):
That's one thing that always, you know, every time I
hear the numbers of the organizations you support, it always,
you know, kind of takes me back, is you know,
because Eric, I don't know if you can touch a
little bit just on the number of community partnerships that
you have now you know, throughout the region.

Speaker 3 (17:15):
Yeah, So we last summer we did a listening tour
with the community which actually engaged a lot of conversations.
We had forty community conversations with four hundred diverse constituents,
So that was that was pretty incredible. I'd say we
have a couple dozen of key partner agencies.

Speaker 4 (17:33):
That we work through through the years, but we're.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
Really expanding community voice because it can't just be around
the services that nonprofits provide. We have to actually know
what the clients are saying and how they feel about
things and the empathy around that and I think all
of that's really important. So that was that was the
real purpose of getting to all those individuals last summer,
is to get that community voice. Because Alice report shows data,

(17:58):
we know what the data is, we know where the
gaps are, it's the numbers are there, but we really
have to know like, what's the complexity to that and
how how can you unit a we be more empathetic.
So again, I'm really excited about where we are with
doing those conversations. Last summer, we've you know, we're really
operationalizing the strategic plan, with having our community design sessions

(18:18):
with those agencies, those couple of dozen agencies, and so
now we're really just defining our goals as a community
as to what those look like in the areas of
child literacy and life expectancy, housing and wages.

Speaker 5 (18:30):
So now based on all.

Speaker 2 (18:31):
Of this data and you know, kind of both collected
through the Alice reports and then through the community conversations,
really can you tell more about kind of what the.

Speaker 5 (18:40):
Future is looking like for where United Way goes next.

Speaker 3 (18:43):
So it's looking how how do we close the gaps
in those areas? Right, so, how do we make a
measured impact, you know, having outcomes within those areas rather
than saying that we're going to fund a program and
it has great outputs, but we want to show that
we're actually moving the needle on issue. So we we
you know, we have to be we have to be

(19:04):
practical in that, but I also think we we we
can you know, really rally the community around issues. And
that that's what where I see organization is rallying around
the issues that it's not just unied. You know, I
cannot be the only funder in this right right we
need other funders involved. You know, I cannot be the
only agency, you know, solving an issue. And I will

(19:25):
say one of the things that was interesting is when
I when we're going through this strategic plan, I had
a CEO round table with our I think it was
our top ten funded agency. So these are those that's
the Women's League and those organizations that have been around
since nineteen twenty four. And that question that I posed
proposed for them was if you and I we did

(19:45):
not give you any money, if you received no funding
from us, again, how would we work together? And they
all said unanimously, advocacy. We all have to advocate around
these issues with legislators and with corporations and bringing public
and private together. And so that just shows us that
we're going in the right direction because advocacy is very

(20:08):
core to our work, and I think that you're going
to see a lot of that more in the future too.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
Definitely, No, you've seen I think a lot through a
lot of your programs, the advocacy and also the education,
which I think is you know, so core to the
advocacy piece, so appreciate that. And you know, looking kind
of Jim for those who may be considering kind of
becoming a supporter, is you know, if you can talk
a little bit on just what would your advice to
be to them about, you know, how they could really

(20:33):
look to start to get involved and you know and
really why.

Speaker 6 (20:36):
Yeah, sure, First of all, thank you.

Speaker 7 (20:38):
I mean everybody's support is critical for this, and it's
not just about financial support. I mean Eric just said
it really well. You could lend your voice to advocate
for causes that you're passionate about. Right, people can share
their talent by joining one of our affinity groups such
as Women of Tolkville or Women United or Emerging Leader
Society Right to have that opportunity to network with those

(21:01):
like minded philanthropists and community involved folks that are looking
to solve.

Speaker 6 (21:06):
Issues impacting us the most right.

Speaker 7 (21:09):
Or you could you could give your gift of time
through volunteerism, you know, reach out to unite away, you know, Shameless, Plug,
United Way, Ink dot org. I hope I got the
right you know, that's the one thing I want to do.

Speaker 6 (21:21):
Right, that's good.

Speaker 7 (21:23):
Uh, there's a whole list or of opportunities to get
yourself where your teams involved at the local level.

Speaker 6 (21:31):
With volunteer activities that you hold dear.

Speaker 7 (21:34):
But I'm gonna I'm gonna kind of play off that
question that you asked there. I'd like to use this
a little bit as a clear and call out to
some of our leaders from our companies that.

Speaker 6 (21:43):
Might be listening to us today.

Speaker 7 (21:45):
Right, and I shared my story of how I first
got involved, and I and I think back about that,
and my only regret is that why did it take
me twenty years to have my aha moment? Right? Why
did it take so long? What could I have done
if I have more, if I was more deeply involved,
if you will, in my twenties and thirties, And and
I consider this a unique opportunity, a responsibility of mine

(22:09):
and others to really introduce the next generation of United
Way champions. And you know, I'm hoping that in a
second I might be stealing a thunder Eric. So I
won't go into the details, but you know, we've got
this incredible centennial gala company. Okay, So I'll I won't
say anything more about that. I'll save it for Eric,
but but I would like to say, you know, Webster

(22:30):
is going to be is a proud sponsor.

Speaker 6 (22:31):
We will be there in force.

Speaker 7 (22:32):
We have our normal folks that are going to be
there as part of it and the celebration and to
get the word out. But I want to I want
to put a thought out there to maybe step it
up a little bit. You know, I purchased an additional table,
invited ten of our local emerging generation or emerging leaders
to join me. Fantastic, you know, not so sure, right

(22:53):
it was. It's going to be in the middle of December,
a couple of weeks from Christmas, and it's Saturday night,
and I didn't know what the receptive you was going
to be. But they just blew me away. You know,
all of them to a point want to come to
this event. They're excited to be there. Uh, They're craving
these opportunities to engage. And that's my appeal to our

(23:13):
industry leaders out there that that are listening, you know,
invite your immerging talent to join you at the gallop.
This is an opportunity. We have an inflection point. If
you will to make a change and ensure that we
have the future generation of leaders, of volunteers, of philanthropists
helping to support this incredible region. And look, I don't

(23:34):
want to, I don't want to break everybody's hearts, but
I won't be around here for the bi centennial. I'm
just I'm just not going to be around here for
the bi centennial. Neither neither of us around here will
be around for.

Speaker 5 (23:47):
The change.

Speaker 4 (23:51):
Health advances.

Speaker 7 (23:53):
Right, So I think it's really up to us to
engage that next generation in the next and so on. Right,
So we are we are stewards of our community's vitality,
and we continually engage our emerging leaders. I am confident
our United Way will be here. Right, different people, different

(24:15):
set of challenges, to be sure, but facing them head
on and marchaling the resource of the community. And that
gives me an incredible amount of confidence in our future
and what we're doing here as part of this effort.

Speaker 2 (24:26):
Definitely, definitely and still having that core and the core
value of the United Way. And you know, want to
talk more about the centennial, gals, Gallas, So thank you
for teeing it up. You know, get throw a softball
over to Eric.

Speaker 3 (24:38):
Right, So I just I want you to imagine the
Connecticut Convention Center one hundred tables, okay, for one hundred years,
one hundred CEOs captaining those tables, sponsoring those tables, and
filling them with the future of philanthropy. Like Jim said,

(24:58):
imagine what that would look like. And that's really what
our goal is for December fourteenth. So this, this is
the call to action. This is right if you if
you are an executive in the Hartford, you know region
or otherwise and in greater Connecticut, think about, you know,
that type of future forward philanthropy and what that room
will be.

Speaker 4 (25:18):
Like that night.

Speaker 5 (25:20):
It's going to be special. It's going to be very special.

Speaker 2 (25:22):
And can you give a little bit more just kind
of the details of the event.

Speaker 5 (25:25):
So I think it's December fourteenth.

Speaker 4 (25:27):
Correct, Yes, And I haven't even revealed the best part.

Speaker 6 (25:31):
Oh.

Speaker 4 (25:33):
I see we have Broadway.

Speaker 3 (25:35):
Icon Bernadette Peters, who will be performing live. So really
excited about that. I think it will be very special,
you know. And again, this this is a one time event, right,
We're not going to be doing a centennial gala every year.

Speaker 4 (25:50):
We're not going to be doing a Gala of.

Speaker 3 (25:52):
This magnitude every year, so we really just you know,
and I would I would love for companies that say,
have not been around with unit Away for a while,
but just think of the history that say, your company
used to have with United Way and all of those
employees that used to volunteer and give and honor that right.
So if you were engaged in the eighties or the

(26:13):
seventies or the fifties, come back to us for this
evening and because I think it'll be really, you know,
really a really special celebration.

Speaker 2 (26:22):
Definitely, and will there be highlights of the history of
United Way.

Speaker 3 (26:25):
At this there will, for sure We're going to be
doing a United Way through the decades.

Speaker 5 (26:29):
Oh no.

Speaker 4 (26:30):
But really the.

Speaker 3 (26:32):
Theme is about what Jim was talking about is the
future of philanthropy and kind of that future forward look Okay.

Speaker 2 (26:38):
Okay, wonderful. And if people are interested in getting involved
with the gala or other ways that they can get
involved in the United Way, where would be the best
place for them to go first?

Speaker 3 (26:47):
Our newly launched brand websites. Oh, we have a brand
a lot of grand or refresh that literally it literally
just relaunched today. Okay, Unitwayink dot org and you will
see Bernadette's lovely face on the landing page. You can
click on that and get tickets.

Speaker 2 (27:05):
Okay, fantastic, And you know, Jim for great idea kind
of inviting those kind of younger I'm gonna say professional,
is that younger talent here in the region. Is there
any other ways you've seen companies kind of get involved
and really kind of take on, you know, a new
way to get involved with an event like the Gala.

Speaker 6 (27:22):
Yeah, I think that.

Speaker 7 (27:24):
You know, I mentioned the affinity groups earlier on the
Emerging Leader Society that we have. It's a it's just
another way of getting folks involved at getting that younger
generation involved in the United Way and the works and
the volunteers and that we do. And so those are
those are the things that I really point to. It's
it's it's so critical that we engage that next generation
of leaders here and so certainly you know that that

(27:45):
call to our senior executives out there in the marketplace,
it's a it's a very it's a very you know,
it's a very reasonable price point to get an extra table,
you know, an extra table for this event and get
another ten of your emerging leaders to join it. It's
it's such a powerful statement and I am so looking
forward to that evening and hanging out with you know,
let's just say not fifty plus ers for me, right,

(28:09):
I am. I'm looking forward to that opportunity.

Speaker 5 (28:13):
Wonderful.

Speaker 2 (28:14):
Eric, Can you again remind people on ways that they
can stay connected with the United.

Speaker 4 (28:18):
Vibe, So our website is best.

Speaker 3 (28:20):
Also check us out on social media our LinkedIn accounts.
You can also follow me on Twitter, United Waight Inc. CEO,
and you can subscribe to our newsletter. So when you
go to our website, there's a way to sign up
and you can stay you know, engaged with all the
activities that we have going around throughout the year.

Speaker 2 (28:38):
Wonderful. Well, thank you both so much for the conversation today.
Really appreciate it and do hope to see everyone on
December fourteenth for the gala.

Speaker 4 (28:46):
Yeah, but we do very well.

Speaker 5 (28:49):
Very very well. Said fantastic.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
As we close out the show today, a though we
probably should have just done a mic drop on that,
but we would like to welcome a new investor to them.
We refer to our members as investors because they're investing
in the work we are doing to promote and grow
the region. So today we welcome the Hilton Garden in
Hartford North. The hotel is located in Windsor's Corporate Corridor
and just a short drive from downtown Hartford and Bradley

(29:15):
International Airport. With over three thousand square feet of event
space and outdoor garden, the hotel is perfect for both
intimate meetings and larger events. Visit the Hilton Garden in
Hartford North at Hillon dot com. For all the details
about today's show, you can visit Pulse off Theeregion dot com.
A big thank you to our show partner Okill and
of course thanks to you for listening.

Speaker 5 (29:36):
I'm Kate Auman.

Speaker 2 (29:37):
Go out and make today a good day here in Connecticut.