Agency debuts donor program

The offers on the Caring Club cards will be good for one year.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- In an effort to boost this year's fund-raising campaign, United Way of Trumbull County officials are ready to work with local businesses in offering some rewards.
The Caring Club program will debut this year as a means of gaining new donors and encouraging current donors to go to the next giving level, explained Chris Malanga, director of communications for the local agency.
"Any individual who donates $120 or more to the United Way becomes a Caring Club member," he said.
The Caring Club is a national program through United Way, though not every UW agency is yet participating, Malanga said.
The program started with the Heart of America United Way agency in Kansas City, Mo., a few years ago, and in Ohio only the United Way in Canton started the program about two years ago.
Provides discounts
Caring Club allows United Way to partner with businesses throughout Trumbull County in rewarding donors with a discount for merchandise or services.
"Anyone who donates $120 or more will be given a personalized club card," Malanga explained. "Then they can use that card at participating businesses for either a percentage off, a dollar discount or maybe a two-for-one offer."
In Canton, he noted, Caring Club members received discounts from everything from restaurants to dry cleaners to paint stores.
The program, Malanga said, allowed the United Way there to generate $380,000 in donations from people who had never donated to the agency before.
"If we could get even just a percentage of that, it would be a big boost to our campaign," he said.
Locally, Caring Club cards will be mailed out at the end of January, and will be good from Feb. 1, 2005, through Jan. 31, 2006. In addition to the card, recipients will receive a letter listing all participating businesses and their offers.
The information also will be updated on a regular basis on the United Way Web site, Malanga said.
Reciprocal benefits
And though individuals get the added bonus of savings or extra services, the businesses also get some advantages, Malanga noted.
In addition to developing customer loyalty, businesses in the Caring Club program also will have their information and Web site linked through the United Way Web site.
Malanga said United Way officials are still lining up businesses to participate in the program. While those listed on the back of the Caring Club card are limited by space and will be included on a first-come, first-served basis, there are no limits to the number of businesses that can be involved.
"The more the merrier," he said.
For more information on becoming a participating businesses in the Caring Club program, contact Malanga at (330) 369-1000, or e-mail info@unitedwaytrumbull.org.
slshaulis@vindy.com