As donors and their families arrived at our Leadership Picnic, they beamed. These donors pledge $1,000 or more each year. They’ve made it clear that United Way of Anchorage means as much to them as they mean to us. Delight radiated from their faces at our registration table as they prepared to enter The Alaska Zoo, which we had reserved to thank them.
“We just got back from London at 3:30 this afternoon,” Rundy Galles said while he and his wife checked in. “We flew from there to Dallas to Seattle to Anchorage.” The unspoken sentiment was obvious: Leadership Picnic matters to lots of people. Donate now.
People congregated under a tent, getting name tags and receiving United Way totes. “Very nice swag!” said Sue Findlay. “I love this bag!” was heard repeatedly. One donor asked, “Can I have two?” We smiled when folks announced that they like to display our name.
Once inside The Zoo, our leadership donors picked a trail to follow and headed toward the harbor seal and river otter, the polar bear or the lynx. No matter their paths, everyone ended up on the lawn. Tables and chairs were arranged. DJ Spencer Lee played music, and children played on Party World inflatables.
Inside the greenhouse, Peppercini’s Catering served a Hawaiian-themed meal. To access dinner, donors had to walk by fun opportunities. They included a photo booth and face painting—and many people, adults and children alike, participated.
Then came people’s chance to introduce themselves to fellow community members and catch up with others who also care about supporting United Way. Couples chatted, and groups gathered. Children scampered around. Warmth and care saturated the area while the cool breeze and cloud-covered skies kept the bugs away.
Like our donors appreciate Leadership Picnic, we do too. We’re encouraged by the many faces, ages and interests of people who support United Way. Our work often occurs behind the scenes, which is why we sometimes encounter community members who ask, “What do you do?” Here’s our reply: Create and fund solutions around a common vision that empower all community members to achieve their potential.
Hosting our leading contributors lets us meet “the people who power our work.” Eric Utraq Billingsley, our President and CEO, made that statement during his remarks to Leadership Picnic attendees. Eric emphasized that their gifts equate to more than $2,000,000 of the $3,500,000 annual support United Way received last year.
“Together, we’re building a community that we all want to live in and stay in,” he said. Our donors nodded and clapped to show they agree with Eric.
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