Jefferson Supports United Way: Campaign Kicks Off November 6

"With just one contribution you can reach out to more than 1 million people who are going through tough times through United Way's member agencies or other qualified health and human service organizations in our area," says 1996 United Way cabinet chairman, Rebecca O'Shea, hospital administrator for clinical programs. Ms. O'Shea was appointed to chair the campaign by University president, Paul C. Brucker, MD.

The campaign kicks off Wednesday, November 6. That's when the United Way cabinet hosts campaigners for breakfast from 8:45 to 10 a.m. in Jefferson Alumni Hall's dining room. The program will include remarks by Dr. Brucker and by Jefferson's Richard Wender, MD, Clinical Associate Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Family Medicine, who is president of the Pennsyl-vania Division of the American Cancer Society, and a showing of this year's United Way film.

At that time, campaigners can get their packet of campaign materials or can arrange for colleagues to get the packet for them. Packets remaining after breakfast may be picked up at the United Way Office at 2270 Gibbon (old Business Office).

The campaign ends Wednesday, November 27, giving us three weeks to reach our $215,000 goal.

Arrange to make your contribution through payroll deduction or you may use Visa or MasterCard.

Employees who wish to make anonymous contributions may hand-deliver them to the night drop box at the hospital cashier's window at 2250 Gibbon.

If you have any questions about the United Way drive, ask your campaigner or call the United Way Hotline at 3-5566.

Consider Jefferson for a Specific Care Donation

Patient care is one of Jefferson's principal missions. You can watch your United Way dollars work for our patients if you designate your contribution to the hospital. Just insert the amount of your gift on your pledge form, as well as Jefferson's name and code number - 00116.

The People Perspective

Your United Way gift helps people who are faced with serious life problems. When you make your contribution, keep in mind the people United Way has touched.

Meet Frances A. Salamone - one of eight million cancer survivors in the United States. Frances volunteered for the American Cancer Society (ACS), a United Way partner organization. Just a month after she became president of the ACS Upper Merion unit, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She believed she could make a difference by talking openly about the disease.

Frances's cancer was very advanced and her physicians recommended two surgeries to perform a double mastectomy. And they recommended breast reconstruction. Through surgery and chemotherapy, she openly spoke of each stage, all the while never missing one chemo treatment. The support she received from the friends she met at ACS was tremendous. "The calls, the cards, they were all so supportive, and I needed that," she says. Frances also received visits from ACS' Reach to Recovery volunteers - breast cancer survivors who visit patients after surgery and aid in the healing process. Reach to Recovery is one of numerous ACS programs, supported in part by the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Of her Reach to Recovery volunteer, Frances says, "We just clicked. It was good to hear from someone still living 25 years after her surgery."

Now, Frances has become a Reach to Recovery volunteer herself, helping other women cope with the trauma of breast cancer.