Elected Officials Blog for United Way Fundraiser

By Kate King
Special Correspondent

Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy and U.S. Congressman Jim Himes, have agreed to blog to raise awareness for the United Way's "Take Five to Give 5," campaign.

The fundraiser asks the community to spend five minutes donating $5 and also encouraging five friends to contribute as well, said Michael Johnston, the United Way of Western Connecticut's chief executive officer.

"These are really exceptional times from an economic standpoint," Johnston said. "Unfortunately, with the economy in a deep recession, people feel less capable of giving. It's the non-profits in our community that are really the safety net for the people in need."

Take Five to Give 5 is United Way's first foray into electronic fundraising. The campaign's blog, which can be found on the Take Five to Give 5 Web site, features past posts from community leaders such as Jim Schmotter, president of Western Connecticut State University and Karen Gottlieb, executive director of AmeriCares Free Clinics.

Most blog entries promote the Take Five to Give 5 fundraiser and discuss the importance of community support for those in need.

"The idea is to create a viral electronic campaign," Johnston said. "People could go to our Web site and donate $5 and notify five of their friends. Pretty quickly we could have a pretty profound impact in our community."

Fedele will be the first in a string of local elected officials to contribute to the Take Five to Give 5 blog, with his post appearing today.

"Families are hurting in Connecticut and this is our way for those of us who can make a contribution to give immediate relief," Fedele said. "It is our job, as members of the community, to take the time to give as little as $5. It's that one Starbucks you don't buy, that one coffee you don't get."

Malloy said his post will most likely aim at drumming up support for the United Way and encouraging Stamford residents to contribute.

"I'm a long-term supporter of the United Way and they asked me to help in this kind of emergency drive that they have going and I was glad to participate," Malloy said.

The Take Five to Give 5 campaign began in late May and is expected to continue through the first weeks of July, Johnston said. The initiative hopes to raise $250,000 for basic need services such as shelter, food and health care.

"It's starting to build momentum," Johnston said. "One of the things about electronic campaigns like this is that it starts at a very small point and expands from there. I don't know exactly where we are at this point."

The public is invited to view and comment on the Take Five to Give 5 blog as well as donate at http://www.uwwesternct.org/take5.