Updated: September 28, 2011 2:31AM
JOLIET — The United Way of Will County kicked off its annual campaign on Tuesday night, seeking to mobilize the generosity of local businesses and individuals.
For more than 75 years, the organization has served this community, and many people have given their time to help those who are less fortunate, said Mike Hennessy, president and chief executive officer of the local agency.
“We’re so grateful for all of you to be here, to celebrate the launching of our campaign to help 45 local agencies that do so much to help our community,” Hennessy said.
Beth Hughes, president and chief executive officer of Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, returns as campaign chairperson.
She addressed an enthusiastic audience Tuesday in the ballroom of the Renaissance Center in downtown Joliet.
“As I sit here and I watch the enthusiasm in this room, I really am privileged to serve as your chair for another year,” she said.
“That’s what happens when you exceed your goal, which we did — and I don’t mean I did, I mean we did,” Hughes said. “And my hat’s off to everybody in this room who helped us exceed our goal.”
To hearty applause, Hughes announced the new campaign goal of $3,920,001.
“The one dollar is important,” she said. “It’s important because if everybody gave one dollar more a week, this goal —piece of cake, not a problem. We will surpass this goal if that was the case.”
Hughes reminded the audience of the reason behind this effort.
“We all sit here because of the agencies, the United Way agencies, that serve so many in need,” she said. “And as I sat in front of you last year and talked about how the need is greater than ever, I feel like, again, there’s really not much that’s changed. Perhaps the need is even greater than it was last year.”
“And the reality is: The hard work that we do in raising money, I think we would all admit in this room, is nothing compared to the work that the agencies do to provide the services that our community needs.”
The evening ended on a fun note, with an Elvis impersonator performance by Dave Thomas, an employee with ComEd, which has been a longtime United Way supporter. ComEd is the largest supporting company of the United Way of Will County.
As he performed, the large projector screen displayed a photo of Thomas and the words: “Elvis Lives United.”