Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 16, 1994 TAG: 9411160100
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
The deal was that the company would kick in a quarter for every dollar pledged by its 1,608 hourly and salaried workers. The goal was an ambitious $100,000, and the plant not only met but exceeded it.
Pledges so far have come to about $82,000. With the match from management, the total is well over $102,000, making Volvo the largest single United Way contributor.
It might seem that contributions of this kind would be hard to get in Pulaski County, where the economy is still recovering from the closing of an AT&T plant at Fairlawn several years ago and cutbacks at Radford Arsenal more recently.
Instead, pledges were up by 8 percent over last year at Volvo.
``I went into it with the aspect, `We'll do it,''' said Jeannie Southern, Volvo's campaign chairperson for this year. ``A lot of people here at Volvo are very fortunate to have a job, and there are a lot of sharing and caring people.''
Susan Roop, director of the county United Way, said the company participation probably helped. ``I think what that does is motivate the employees to give more because they are getting so much more for their money,'' she said.
Volvo also allowed team coordinators time to work on the drive, and provided incentives to make the drive more fun.
Team leaders have been putting in extra time for weeks raising awareness for the campaign. So have volunteers like Larry Scott, who created the drawing for Volvo's United Way poster which showed various employees hanging onto a plant truck.
``Most people were really accepting of it,'' said team leader Walter ``Mack'' McGrady. ``They saw a need within the county.''
A lot of people on his team had done volunteer home construction work for Habitat for Humanity, one of the agencies getting United Way funding, he said. ``People here are more than willing to jump in and help any way they can. It's always been that way.''
``It was hard, but I feel like it's a worthy cause,'' said Majorie Martin, asked about the extra time she put in as a team leader. ``I skipped over a few lunches and a break or two.''
She said the fact that production is on the rise at Volvo has given people a good feeling about their own future, and a willingness to give to those less fortunate. They also like the option of giving through payroll deductions to United Ways in their home locality, she said.
Sixty percent of the employees pledging live in Pulaski County. Sixteen percent live in Montgomery County, 11 percent in Wythe, 6 percent in the Carroll-Grayson area, 2 percent in Giles, 1 percent in Giles, and 4 percent in other parts of both Virginia and West Virginia.
Other team leaders in the record drive included:
Suzie Pack, Karen Burks, Jimmy Smith, Fuzzy Gravely, Cara Nowlin, Roberta Greene, Tony Caudill, Jim Ratcliffe, Sylvia Bishop, Misi Gilbert, Loreen Beamer, Wanda Anderson, Debbie Bolen, Gloria Lovern, Kim Ratcliff, Sandy Dickerson, Jimmy Morehead, Donald Stoots, B.J. Brindley, Sue Hedge, Annette DeGroodt, Lynn Burris, Danny Linkous, Cindy Viers, Chris Carter, Terry ``Popcorn'' Anders, Luther Henley, Donnie Woodyard, Marion Lawson, Ivan Mitchell, Melissa Anderson, Kristi Carter, Nancy Heidt and Marcus Thompson.
by CNB