Around The Railroad

Employees' Giving Spirit Earns Recognition

October 3, 2008 | 09:19 a.m. CDT

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Midlands recently recognized Union Pacific as Corporate Partner of the Year at its annual Friends of Mentoring luncheon in Omaha. Jacqueline White, assistant vice president-strategic sourcing-Mechanical, accepted the award on Union Pacific's behalf.

Under the leadership of Kelli Sweet, senior business manager-cement, UP has been the No. 1 corporate participant for three consecutive years – both in monies raised and participant numbers – for the BBBS' largest fundraising campaign, Bowl for Kids Sake (BFKS).

Since 2004, Union Pacific's fundraising efforts increased by 447 percent. This year's goal of $30,000 was surpassed by more than $1,000. White and Thomas Fancher, UPDS, were two of the top city-wide individual fundraisers.

Members of Union Pacific's 2008 Omaha BFKS planning committee were:

• Executive sponsor and BBBS board member - Jacqueline White, Mechanical
• Company coordinators - Kelli Sweet, Marketing and Sales, and Adam Simeon, UPDS
• Company raffle coordinators - Jayson Bisbee and Christa Otto, both from Marketing and Sales
• Raffle team - Shannon Peacher, Courtney O'Connor, both from Marketing and Sales; Samantha Miller, Supply, and Adam Dahms, UPDS

Serving the Omaha metro area for nearly 50 years, BBBS' mission is to help children reach their potential through a professionally supported one-on-one mentoring program. In 2007, the program provided 1,570 children with a Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple.

UP in the Community highlights ways employees are donating their time and talents to make their communities better places to live and work. Employee organizations, work groups and individuals are invited to submit information on their community-service efforts. Simply provide details by filling out the   UP in the Community form accessible from Story Ideas and Comments on the Employees site homepage.

Employees donating at least 40 hours annually of their personal time to an eligible, nonprofit organization can apply for a $250 donation supporting that organization under Union Pacific's GivePLUS program.