THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 19, 1994 TAG: 9408170114
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
``Oh! somewhere on this Chesapeake land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And somewhere people are laughing, and somewhere children play
For there is joy in all of Chesapeake on this fateful day,
For Mighty Buckley and Chesapeake General, hit a grand slam for the United Way.''
- ``Buckley at the Bat''
While the professional baseball strike renders bats silent and gloves empty around the country, Chesapeake General Hospital has stepped up to the plate to ``knock one out of the park'' in helping to fill the coffers of United Way agencies throughout the city and region.
Hospital President Donald S. Buckley, who is chairman of year's United Way campaign in Chesapeake, donned a baseball uniform, grabbed a bat and proceeded to symbolically knock a few out of the park for the fall campaign.
The baseball event was held to kick off Chesapeake General Hospital's own Pacesetter drive.
Every year, several select businesses in each Hampton Roads city start early campaigns, said Mary Darden, director of fund-raising for the Chesapeake United Way.
``We run early summer campaigns to set the pace or tone of giving for our general fall campaign,'' Darden said. ``Pacesetter companies are those reliable companies that really get behind us year after year.''
Other Chesapeake Pacesetters are Bank of Hampton Roads, Greenbrier Chrysler/Plymouth, Greenbrier Oldsmobile, Kasei Memory Products, Ingersoll Dresser Pump Co., Schlumberger Technology, Tidewater Wholesale Grocery, Towne Development Corp., Vico Construction Corp., Chesapeake Hardwood, the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office and the Office of Economic Development and Real Estate for the City of Chesapeake.
Darden said each Pacesetter organizes its own campaign and theme to help set the tone of giving for the annual fall effort. Chesapeake General got the ball rolling with its theme ``Hit a Grand Slam for the United Way.''
This time out Buckley dressed up as Chesapeake's own Casey at the Bat, but rather than strike out he hit a few Nerf balls off of ``pitcher'' Bill Rost, the hospital's fund development director, during a ceremony at the hospital atrium.
``The hospital has always done a great job during our campaigns,'' Darden said. ``They've always organized a fun scene, and Mr. Buckley has always been a great sport. In the past he's had his pants legs cut off, had pies thrown at him and been dunked into a dunk tank.''
During Thursday's event the hospital administrators - Julia Riddle, Becky Maples, Wynn Dixon, Phil Noe, Randy Cromwell and Harry Munari - wore baseball uniforms or hats and jerseys while they read excerpts of ``Buckley at the Bat,'' a take-off on the famous Ernest Lawrence Thayer poem.
After the stunt, Buckley talked about the United Way's importance and got hospital supervisors and employees properly motivated, said Mary Frank, the hospital's spokesperson.
Frank said the hospital will gauge its campaign by using a banner showing a baseball diamond. As the donations come in, the balls will be moved around the bases until it has been ``knocked out of the park,'' marking a 100 percent or better effort.
Each hospital section will be led by United Way representative or ``coach'' who will in turn motivate their own specific departments until home run goals have been achieved.
On Sept. 7, every employee who contributed to Chesapeake General's campaign will be treated to a picnic featuring food and competitions for prizes.
Darden hopes this kind of Pacesetter campaign will motivate the citywide United Way effort in achieving a historic goal.
``We're making this our million-dollar year,'' Darden said. ``We're looking to hit a milestone of $1 million contributed, something we've never done before. Last year we raised $971,000, so it can be done. With a wonderfully strong leadership provided by Mr. Buckley and the board we're confident we'll hit that grand slam.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Phil Noe, left, serves as catcher while Donald Buckley takes his
turn at bat for Chesapeake General Hospital's United Way Pacesetter
drive.
by CNB