WWT Wraps Up 2015 United Way Campaign in a BIG Way

For almost 20 years, WWT has supported United Way by hosting annual corporate campaigns. It's a fun two weeks filled with education, guest speakers, raffles, prizes and lots of great food. Most importantly, it's a chance to bring awareness to an organization that helps provide the building blocks for strong communities by focusing on education, financial stability and health.

United Way is a worldwide organization with 2.6 million volunteers and almost 10 million donors that touches the lives of several people within each of our social circles. As the United Way invests in people within our communities to make great places to live, likewise, WWT invests in our employees, partners and customers who make us a great place to work.

Each year we host a two-week campaign to raise money for the United Way, but in true WWT fashion, we prefer to make it a party! WWT kicked off the first week with the WWT Executive Team serving breakfast for a $5 donation. There were raffle opportunities to win prizes like TVs, Apple watches, vacation days and more.

WWT also promotes a corporate-wide presentation with surprise guest speakers which is streamed all over the world. This year's speaker was Rick Horton. Past speakers have included Mike Matheny, Lou Brock, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Ozzie Smith and Mike Jones. But it's rarely the special speakers who steal the show. Instead, it's regular St. Louis citizens who talk about how the United Way has changed their lives so dramatically, whether that's overcoming homelessness, substance abuse or preserving a childhood thanks to an afterschool program.

Throughout the weeks, as raffles continue, employees are offered the opportunity to bid on the popular technology products donated by WWT through an online auction site. During this time, employees are also encouraged to ePledge to United Way through payroll deductions. As an added bonus, employees donating $1,000 or more are entered to win a four-night stay at their choice of four retreats, along with a $500 gift card to help with travel costs.

Outside of the United Way, employees each receive a paid day to volunteer every year at an organization of their choice.

The United Way campaign has sparked so much awareness and interest that many WWT teams participate in various United Way programs and events throughout the year. The annual campaign creates a momentum year-round; we're already looking forward to 2016!

Get involved with the United Way by visiting: http://www.unitedway.org/