2016 Campaign Co-Chairs Announced

Wayne A. Stevens
907-463-5530
president@unitedwayseak.org

FOR RELEASE September 15, 2016

Peggy Cowan and Warren Russell to Lead

United Way 2016 Annual Giving Campaign

Juneau, AK – United Way of Southeast Alaska is proud to announce a dynamic team who will be leading United Way of Southeast Alaska’s annual giving campaign. Peggy Cowan, a consultant in the field of education, and Warren Russell, Regional Vice President for GCI have agreed to lead the annual workplace campaign effort. They look forward to building on past success and stretching the campaign goal to $450,000 while also increasing both donors and donations.

United Way of Southeast Alaska’s Board Chair, Mark Mesdag, in making the announcement at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday afternoon said “We really appreciate both Peggy and Warren taking on this important challenge.  The annual campaign helps to fund United Way’s fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community across Southeast Alaska. Everyone deserves the opportunity to have a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.  Both Peggy and Warren have been great ambassadors for these causes in the past. We know that they will do an excellent job.”

Peggy Cowan is a consultant working with the Alaskan non-profits and the University of Alaska. She is former Superintendent for the Juneau School District and North Slope Borough School District. She’s been an educator in Alaska since 1982 and first moved to Juneau in 1985. She believes that strong communities make strong schools and strong schools make strong citizens; and sees United Way as critical to this mission.

Warren is a retired Coast Guard Officer with 25 years of military service. Since 2005 he has worked for General Communications INC. and currently serves as the Regional Vice President in Southeast Alaska for General Communications Inc. (GCI) managing daily operations, systems and services throughout Southeast Alaska. As a board member for the SEAK United Way and a few partner agencies, he firmly believes in the building better communities and resources for family, friends and neighbors.

United Way of Southeast Alaska’s campaign annually raises funds to support the United Way’s mission of improving lives and communities in Southeast Alaska as well as the work of our 35 partner agencies. 

Community contributions are invested carefully and systematically in programs and agencies that work to solve various community problems. We have a great responsibility to ensure that your contribution is invested in the most effective and impactful way possible.

Statistics show that 1 in 3 people will use a United Way partner agency in their lifetime.  Your support ensures that you, your loved ones, neighbors, and co-workers will have help when it is needed.

United Way of Southeast Alaska is a volunteer-driven, grass-roots organization that creates lasting change by bringing people and resources together to address community-wide issues.  UWSEAK focuses on the building blocks of a good life: Education, Income and Health; a quality education that leads to a good job, income that can support a family through retirement, and good health.

UWSEAK is a member of the United Way Worldwide system that includes nearly 1,400 community-based United Way organizations.  Each is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers.

For more information about United Way of Southeast Alaska or to find information about holding a workplace campaign at your business visit our website at www.unitedwayseak.org or call our offices at 907-463-5530

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