PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Paper Corp. has concluded a record-breaking employee payroll deduction campaign for United Good Neighbors, or UGN, raising more than $50,000 in pledges.
The corporation matched employee payroll deduction donations dollar for dollar.
“All of us at PT Paper realize how important it is to have these resources available for all residents of Jefferson County,” said Rita Hubbard, PT Paper employee.
“For over 50 years, Port Townsend Paper has remained an enthusiastic supporter of this annual campaign.”
Debbi Reandeau, co-coordinator of the mill’s campaign with Hubbard and current UGN board president, said organizers made this year’s campaign especially fun for employees.
“For the past few years, PT Paper has competed with Jefferson Healthcare — a friendly competition to see who can raise the most money for UGN. This year, we decided to add some fun prizes to encourage all employees at PT Paper to give. Not only will employees have the chance to win gift certificates to some of their favorite places around town, they also will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win two floating holidays.”
Roger Hagan, PT Paper president and UGN campaign chairman, and his wife, Lynn Marlow, said they know the value of UGN in their community.
Hagan has deep ties to Jefferson County and knows family members and friends who have received support from UGN of Jefferson County over the years.
“PTPC matches employee contributions to demonstrate how important it is for businesses to join the hundreds of individuals who donate every year to UGN. It is also a way to thank and to support our own employees for their generosity, said Hagan.
“Our goal is to raise $300,000 by the end of January, and we are at 70 percent of that goal,” UGN Executive Director Carla Caldwell said.
UGN lost grants
“The number of individual donors are down this fall, and while some of our regular supporters have increased their annual gifts, we will need donations from everyone who can give, no matter the size of the donation, to reach our goal,” Caldwell said.
“We lost an annual $15,000 grant when Puget Sound Energy left the county and about $5,000 in an annual employee match from the city last year, so we need to make up for those losses.
“PTPC and Jefferson Healthcare’s campaigns are stronger each year, but we still need Jefferson County citizens to pitch in to help us build a strong safety net for our community,” Caldwell added
Jefferson Healthcare’s campaign results will be reported this week.
As a member of United Way of Washington, last year UGN helped more than 30 agencies provide emergency, senior, youth and community services to neighbors in Jefferson County.
For information about UGN or to donate to the campaign, visit www.weareugn.org.
