ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories employees and retirees have pledged more than $4 million to the United Way of Central New Mexico. Sandia is the No. 1 contributor again, a role Sandia has always owned. The $4 million includes $70,000 from Lockheed Martin Corporation.
“When I first started working with Sandia and their Employee Caring Program (ECP) campaign in 1997, I recall hearing a former Laboratories Director say, ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” said Randy Woodcock, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer for the United Way of Central New Mexico. “Well our community knows how much Sandians care by the generosity they demonstrated in raising more than $4 million through the United Way/ECP campaign this past fall.”
Woodcock said he had heard a great deal about fundraising challenges that other United Way organizations around the country are facing due to the downturn in the economy. “But I didn’t hear any of that at Sandia,” he said.
“I’m extraordinarily proud of the Laboratories’ contributions to the United Way campaign this year,” said Tom Hunter, Sandia President and Laboratories Director. “The depth of caring by our employees and retirees is a real reflection of the character of the Laboratories and the significance we place on giving back to our community.”
About 77 percent of the Labs’ employees contributed this year, the highest level since 1994. In addition to the generosity of the active employees, Sandia retirees contributed more than $503,000, which has more than doubled in the past five years.
Sandia’s annual employee giving program began in 1956 with 91 percent of Sandians participating and raising $63,900. The plan was initially called the United Fund, incorporating 24 Community Chest agencies.
A small army of Sandians devotes time during a three-week period in the fall to make sure all Sandians are invited to participate in the employee giving program. Sandia’s management, unions, retirees, and employees work together to make a substantial difference in our community.
Final numbers will be revealed at the United Way’s annual celebration in February.