April 3, 2024 – Caterpillar and its employees celebrated its commitment to the United Way by donating $388,000 to the organization from its Fall 2023 month long campaign.
The funds were raised through employee campaigns and employee organized activities, as well as matching funds by the Caterpillar Foundation. That campaign kicked off in mid-August and concluded in mid-September of 2023.
Debbie Bogle, Director of the United Way of Decatur and Mid Illinois, said that Caterpillar’s commitment and partnership with the United Way has made a major impact on the community, noting that funds donated by Caterpillar and it’s employees alone have allowed the United Way to purchase 3200 books for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program to benefit 275 local children. In addition, the donation provided 630 nights of housing for local working families in crisis, 78 nights for families with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois, provided CASA court advocates for 84 abused and neglected children and provided wraparound services for 20 children through the Old Kings Orchard Iceberg Program for youth at risk for educational failure and criminal behavior.
“Ten years ago, they [Caterpillar] allowed us to come in and literally speak to every employee. And so they have a team of United Way advocates here at Caterpillar who put together their campaign and arrange for us to come out and talk to everybody,” Bogle said. “They also have events throughout the month, they have a family day, a newsletter. . their employees are super dedicated and want to make sure their campaign is successful.”
Gaurav Pareek, the facilities manager for the Decatur plant, said they are very proud that the company had 70% participation of its 3000 employees during the month long campaign. “We are vey around of this partnership,”Pareek said. “Caterpillar has been partnering with the United Way for almost 70 years. Just in the last 3 years, Caterpillar and the Caterpillar foundation has contributed more than 1 Million dollars to the United Way and its participating charities.”
In addition, employees who give more than $1000 or more than 1% of their salary to the month long campaign are honored by being named to “The Builders Circle.”
Caterpillar and its employees presented the United Way of Decatur and Mid Illinois with a check for $388,000 during a ceremony at the Decatur plant.
By: Traymar Brown
