Suffolk News-Herald

The employees at Lakeview Medical Center recently held a picnic to raise funds for the United Way campaign. Through their efforts, the Suffolk agency received $4,782.

Anna Lewis, human resources specialist at Lakeview’s Meade Parkway facility, said the offices in Smithfield, Churchland, Franklin, and Norfolk all participated.

&uot;And, this doesn’t include any contributions by the doctors,&uot; said Lewis. &uot;They have their own fund drive going with Dr. George W. Cornell heading that campaign, which is still in progress.&uot;

Lewis said everybody got into the fund raising act at the medical center. Nat Jones, Lakeview pharmacist, brought his own brand of enthusiasm to the event by serving ice cream sundaes to all who contributed at least $1 per pay period to United Way.

Those sundaes topped off a barbecue lunch catered by Roy and Ricky’s.

Each employee was provided with a pledge card, and after making their commitment they turned them in during the barbecue.

As an added incentive to contribute, all Lakeview employees who gave at least $26 put their names in the pot for a chance to win a day off with pay. Winners were Cheryl Doyle of the Franklin office, Anita Jordan in radiology, and Gwen Chapman of the business office.

At the United Way, a vast network of volunteers and the simplicity of corporate payroll deduction keep administrative expenses low – averaging 13 percent of all funds raised at the largest United Ways. This figure compares favorably with the suggested Better Business Bureau guidelines of up to 35 percent.

United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement in making measurable impact in every community across America.

It invests in the programs and services that strengthen the ability of local United Ways to identify and build a coalition around a set of community priorities and measure success based on community impact.