United Way of Greater Cleveland -- City of Pepper Pike Campaign

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Pepper Pike Runs Record Campaign
For almost 20 years Bonnie Roush, under the leadership of Pepper Pike Mayor Bruce Akers, has administered one of the most consistently successful community government United Way campaigns in Cuyahoga County. This year, their campaign will have over a 79 percent participation rate among Pepper Pike's 101 employees, raising almost $16,000, a 29 percent increase over last year.

How do they do it?
"Strong leadership and a clear, concise message delivered from the top is key," Bonnie says, adding that Mayor Akers leads by example, making a generous personal commitment of time and money to United Way. "The mayor writes a letter to all employees and I put up a chart, listing each department and what they have raised and what our goal is for the year. It is a no-nonsense campaign and our great employees respond because they do have good, secure jobs and it is the right thing to do," Bonnie says in describing the campaign.

John Frazier (left) and Tom Majeski (right) standing near the I-90 bridge in Saint Louis, Mississippi. The bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The Cajun Connection
After Hurricane Katrina rocked the gulf coast in September, the nation rallied to the aid of our fellow Americans, and Clevelanders were no exception. United Way of Greater Cleveland made a special appeal to contributors, designated $50,000 for Katrina relief and took a leading role in helping over 600 people who resettled from affected areas to Greater Cleveland.

State and local governments from around our region also offered to help. Police, fire, emergency and other specialized services were made available to governments on the gulf coast. Pepper Pike offered emergency, police and fire services, and firemen Tom Majeski and John Frazier were among those chosen.

"It was incredible what we saw, the devastation that was wrought upon the land. Trees uprooted, houses which fell apart like matchsticks and the water and stench," Tom says. After a month of service, Tom and John returned to Greater Cleveland, gratified for being able to help those in need, but thankful for being back home.

John has been a longtime donor to United Way and Tom to other United Way partner agencies. Both knew of the good that United Way does helping those in need, right here at home, but the work they did in Waveland, Mississippi on the gulf coast reinforced those thoughts. "We worked with United Way partners in the gulf region and we saw firsthand, right on the front lines the great work that they do, providing direct relief to those in need. Sometimes you don't get to see this as a donor. We did, and it really affected us," John said.

Both of them agreed that United Way helps support programs that prevent small crises from becoming large ones. From 211/First Call For Help to the critical programs that give people in need a hand up, United Way makes a difference. And so upon their return, each of these brave men received an overtime check for their service in the gulf region…and each donated that check to United Way. John felt that "We thought it was the right thing to do, to help people get on with their lives and make our community a better place."

Because of people like Tom and John, our community and our nation are better, safer places. Thanks to communities like Pepper Pike, United Way is able to make our city a community that cares for its own, one person at a time.