ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sandia National Laboratories employees and retirees in 2013 increased donations to the United Way of Central New Mexico by 8.2 percent over the previous year, giving $6,050,426 to the charitable organization.
“This level of generosity is astounding,” said Kelly Westlake, Sandia’s 2013 Employee Caring Program campaign chair. “Sandians faced the prospect of a lab shutdown due to the federal budget crisis early in the campaign and still came through, setting new records. Everyone at Sandia should be extremely proud.”
Sandia’s employees in Livermore, Calif., added $189,154, making the total employee and retiree giving between both sites $6,239,580. The retiree share was $809,128.
Of the total giving, $1,575,949 was designated to the Community Fund, up $66,347 from the previous year. The fund supports a range of nonprofit agencies and programs that help people in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties.
Deputy Laboratories Director and Executive Vice President for Mission Support Kim Sawyer, chair-elect of the United Way of Central New Mexico (UWCNM) board of directors and a past campaign chairwoman, said the response from Sandia staff and retirees this year demonstrated the strong culture of giving at the labs. “Sandia has a rich history of supporting those who are most vulnerable,” she said. “Every year we strive to do more to help the community.”
Ed Rivera, UWCNM’s president and CEO, said Sandia’s generosity is an inspiration. Since the Employee Caring Program was launched in 1957, Sandia has been the single largest supporter of the organization’s annual campaign, contributing more than $82 million. “Sandia National Labs is an exemplary partner in the work of the United Way of Central New Mexico,” he said. “In addition to raising millions each year in their Employee Caring Program, many Sandians are engaged as volunteers throughout central New Mexico and in so many areas of United Way’s work. This includes services in key leadership roles on our board of directors and in vital volunteer council work that guides our programmatic endeavors to benefit the community.”
Randy Woodcock, UWCNM’s vice president and chief strategic officer, has provided staff support to the Sandia Employee Caring Program since 1996. “In the 18 years that I have supported the campaign, I am in awe how Sandia employees and retirees continue to surpass their aggressive goals each year,” he says. “Last year we celebrated Sandia breaking the $5 million mark, and now to raise $6.05 million in a single campaign, especially in such a challenging economic climate, speaks volumes to how much Sandians care about helping their neighbors.”
Click here for more information on Sandia’s community involvement.