The 2015 United Way Campaign will kick off this Thursday with the annual Day of Caring event. This is an impressive event that brings together over 50 companies and 400 individuals in the spirit of service to a number of local organizations. Meaningful progress will be made on 25 community-based projects on this day. It will be about getting out and giving a helping hand to local organizations and celebrating another year of dedicated volunteerism.

The United Way of Sheboygan County is unique in that it benefits from a broad base of support and engagement from businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the County. Their approach is simple: Learn about what our community’s needs are, increase awareness of the opportunities to help and provide resources to make change happen. There is no organization that does this as comprehensively as the United Way, and it’s the reason I have been a supporter of the organization and am grateful for the opportunity to be the 2016 Campaign Chair.

The United Way’s strategic plan identifies the needs of Sheboygan County residents and offers specific solutions to address them. This year, there are four areas of focus: Education, Income, Health and Volunteerism. Three of these relate on some level to health care; as President of Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center, this is a particularly ideal year for me to champion the United Way mission.

Having this year’s areas of focus coincide with my professional work happened by chance. Service to others and advocacy is really what this is all about. Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.” Thinking beyond our own lives and reaching out to help someone who has a need builds strength in our community and makes us better individuals.

My wife Jill and I have chosen professions that have us serving others. I started my career as a nurse, making a direct impact on patients. Now I impact patients by providing a positive work environment for those on the front lines of patient care. Jill is involved locally with Meals on Wheels and works with children in their homes as a physical therapist in the 0-3 program in Brown County. She and I both see the benefits of programs that are in place for families and our community as a result of contributions to the United Way.

As I look to the months ahead, my focus will be twofold: Broadening advocacy for and involvement in the United Way by reaching out to my colleagues in the health care industry, and furthering work on the United Way’s strategic plan by pairing our county’s needs for Education, Income, Health and Volunteerism with programs that directly address them.

I hope to contribute to the legacy of our local United Way and enhance the broad base of support it already has. I’m looking forward to welcoming others who will join me on this journey toward creating a better Sheboygan County. It’s not about any one of us individually – it’s about how we come together to address needs and we only do that when we Live United.

Dave Graebner
2016 United Way of Sheboygan County Campaign Chair
President, Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center