Extra! Online -- Oct. 6, 2006, Make a donation, make an impact


	Friday, Oct. 6, 2006 Volume 17, No. 20 Download a PDF of this issue

Additional Articles
Lance Armstrong Foundation awards grant to UPMC Cancer Centers

Bring Your Culture
to Work Week

Go online for
Open Enrollment

Your benefits:
What’s new for 2007?

Important Open
Enrollment dates

Benefit fairs scheduled

Home Health gets
new name

Prepared to respond

University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging offers geriatric sensitivity training program

UPMC Cardiovascular Institute receives nuclear cardiology accreditation for outpatient sites

Recruit staff,
earn extra cash

America On the Move hits the ground walking in Pittsburgh

UPMC Health Plan to
host Healthy Living
Lecture Series

UPMC prepares for winter — and you can help

Protect your patients
Protect your family
Protect yourself

PLAN TO GET
A FLU SHOT.

Clinics are coming soon.
Watch Extra! and Infonet for more information.

Make a donation, make an impact

UPMC’s 2006 United Way campaign kicks off

How your gift can help

Laura Witt, RN, Emergency Department, Magee-Womens Hospital, and her husband, Matthew, remember vividly the day six years ago when three tiny heartbeats appeared on their ultrasound screen. Just 24 weeks into Ms. Witt’s pregnancy, their triplets were born — nearly four months too early and frighteningly small.

The fragile babies were placed in the capable hands of the NICU staff at Magee-Womens Hospital, where they received exemplary care. “It was the best and worst of anything you can imagine,” says Ms. Witt. “We experienced tremendous anxiety every day, but we also had the best people, expertise, and technology nurturing our babies and keeping our hope alive.”

After four long months in the NICU, the triplets went home, each healthy and weighing nearly 5 pounds. Today, they are high-spirited kindergartners. “We gave the NICU staff a triple challenge,” says Ms. Witt, “and in return they gave us a beautiful life.”

Magee’s NICU is one of many UPMC programs supported by United Way. By donating to these programs, you can make a tangible difference in the lives of people in your UPMC community.

Every weekday after school, Youth Learning in a Fun Environment (Youth LIFE) tutors, entertains, and feeds 90 children, ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old, from several Allegheny County school districts.

Vintage’s Adult Day Care provides weekday nursing, care, and entertainment for 60 seniors in Allegheny County, enabling them to remain with families and live independently.

The Birth Circle provides supportive care and aftercare to help at-risk women in the East End have healthy pregnancies and births.

These three programs have something in common — all are partially funded by United Way of Allegheny County. United Way streamlines the process of getting money and resources to local agencies that impact the community’s critical needs. Last year, United Way partner agencies touched the lives of 1 million people in Allegheny County.

Starting Monday, Oct. 9, through Friday, Oct. 27, UPMC staff can sign up to contribute to the 2006 UPMC United Way campaign. Just $4 per pay can provide safe shelter for two people whose home was destroyed by fire; $20 per pay can provide a night of shelter for a woman who is fleeing an abusive relationship; and $40 per pay can provide clothes for 10 children who lost all their possessions in a disaster. Whether you donate a little or a lot, your dollars matter to people in your community who need help.

You can direct donations to one of three areas of United Way of Allegheny County: a human service agency, a UPMC program of choice, or the Impact Fund, which focuses on three critical areas — children, seniors, and basic needs.

If you are located outside of Allegheny County, you can designate your contributions to United Way programs in your area.

To pledge, visit UPMC Infonet (http://infonet.upmc.com) and select the Making Your Pledge link to be directed to UPMC’s custom page on the United Way website, or visit United Way’s website directly at www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org/upmc. Alternatively, you can make your donation with a paper pledge form, available from campaign managers in individual business units. Pledge forms allow you to pay by personal check or by payroll deduction, available for one, 12, or 26 pay periods beginning in January 2007. Pledging online gives you the additional option of using a credit card.

The United Way Infonet website is open for donations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all information is entered securely. A brief but compelling video and a list of eligible UPMC programs also are available on the site.