{"id":49159,"date":"2025-12-01T16:51:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/49159\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T16:51:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:51:09","slug":"loaned-campaign-specialists-help-united-way-meet-its-goal-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/49159\/","title":{"rendered":"Loaned Campaign Specialists help United Way meet its goal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Their work is described as the \u201cheartbeat\u201d of the United Way of Berks County\u2019s annual campaign to raise funds to be invested in area human service programs.<\/p>\n

They are the members of the agency\u2019s Loaned Campaign Specialist program.<\/p>\n

Each year, area businesses loan employees to the United Way for a 13-week assignment. The loaned employees work with the nonprofit, company CEOs and campaign coordinators to plan, manage and facilitate workplace giving campaigns, the United Way said.<\/p>\n

The Loaned Campaign Specialists are the face of the United Way \u2014 the storytellers \u2014 talking with individuals about the impact of United Way funded programs to inspire support.<\/p>\n

Along the way they share their personal stories, according to Sheila Tulli, United Way vice president of resource development.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s campaign, which launched in mid-September and ended Nov. 20, included 16 Loaned Campaign Specialists, including 13 from seven area companies and three community volunteers, according to Chris Spanier, vice president marketing\/communications for United Way of Berks County.<\/p>\n

The Loaned Campaign Specialists for 2025:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Liza Singson, Yaniret Medrano \u2014 Alcon Research\u2022 Chad Wall \u2014 Brentwood Industries\u2022 Kris Bortz, Meghan Henke, Danielle Kelly, Izzy Soler \u2014 Carpenter Technology Corp.\u2022 Saundra Caldwell, Davina Seifrit \u2014 East Penn Manufacturing Co.\u2022Ambur Bernhard, Rachael Olson \u2014 Penske Transportation Solutions\u2022 Yovonny Santana \u2014 Reading Hospital\u2022 Brandon Epting \u2014 UGI Energy Services\u2022 Mike Reese, Sandi Schlegel, Heneris Oliveras \u2014 Community Volunteer LCSs<\/p>\n

\"AngelAngel and Scott Helm, center, the 2025 United Way of Berks County 2025 campaign co-chairs, with the Loaned Campaign Specialists at the Sept. 10 Campaign Kickoff event at FirstEnergy Stadium. (Courtesy United Way of Berks County)<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Loaned Campaign Specialists and the sponsoring companies are the heart of the campaign. Their dedication goes far beyond raising dollars; they lift up lives and bring hope to neighbors who need it most. We are deeply grateful for their compassion and commitment.\u201d United Way President Tammy White said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The Assignment<\/p>\n

The campaign specialists\u2019 work starts in August with a three-week training program centered on public speaking (including a session with Dale Carnegie Training), project management, team building and communication skills, according to Spanier. Additionally, the group learned about community needs by visiting and volunteering at area nonprofits.<\/p>\n

Tulli said the Loaned Campaign Specialists \u201cwere strangers when they come to us that first Monday,\u201d but by the end of that first week, they had formed a bond.<\/p>\n

Part of the reason they bonded so quickly, she said, is because of the experiences the United Way provides that first week \u2014 including an overview of United Way, team building, then out to the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are volunteering, seeing the benefit of the programs because they are going out to them. They are vulnerable in those moments,\u201d Tulli said, adding that they gain a perspective of the work they are about to do by being out in the community.<\/p>\n

She added that every year, she feels energized by the incoming Loaned Campaign Specialists and their \u201cwillingness to speak from their hearts and share personal aspects of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tulli and her team are responsible for making sure members of the group are prepared, feel supported and have what they need.<\/p>\n

At the end of training, each campaign specialist receives a portfolio of about 20 accounts \u2014 companies they will visit over the course of the campaign.<\/p>\n

Part of the initial training, Tulli said, is spending time talking with the campaign specialists about their \u201cwhy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can tell people all the stats you want, but what makes for a really meaningful presentation, is when they understand why they are doing it \u2014 putting their hearts on the line,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"YaniretYaniret Medrano, left and Liza Singson, were Loaned Campaign Specialists from Alcon Research during the 2025 annual campaign for United Way of Berks County. This photo shows them participating in a communication exercise during the three-week training for this year\u2019s Loaned Campaign Specialists. (Courtesy United Way of Berks County)<\/p>\n

Alcon designated two employees as Loaned Campaign Specialists this year \u2014 Liza Singson and Yaniret Medrano. Singson said the experience has opened her eyes to the range of community needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cServing as an LCS motivates me to continue helping others and to be part of a movement making a difference,\u201d Singson said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen how every contribution makes a difference and that we can change lives, together,\u201d Medrano added.<\/p>\n

Support From Companies<\/p>\n

Tulli said it\u2019s a big commitment for a company to give up an employee for 13 weeks, but getting businesses on board isn\u2019t a difficult task. She said that once the campaign is completed, the employees go back to their companies inspired to communicate and with more confidence in themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see it as a talent development opportunity, and we are proud to invest in both our employees and the community,\u201d Alan Carl, Sinking Spring Alcon general manager, said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Angel and Scott Helms, this year\u2019s United Way campaign co-chairs, say the Loaned Campaign Specialists \u201cbring energy, compassion and a personal touch, helping United Way connect with donors and volunteers to build a stronger, more united community.\u201d<\/p>\n

At Thursday\u2019s Victory Celebration to mark the end of the campaign, the 2025 Loaned Campaign Specialists had one last presentation before their assignments end. They were invited onto the stage to help the United Way announce the final fundraising amount \u2014 $11,057,115 \u2014 surpassing the goal of $10.75 million.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Their work is described as the \u201cheartbeat\u201d of the United Way of Berks County\u2019s annual campaign to raise…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":49075,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[349,60,182,28,128,130,129],"class_list":{"0":"post-49159","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-reading","8":"tag-berks-county","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-local-news","11":"tag-pennsylvania","12":"tag-reading-city","13":"tag-reading-city-headlines","14":"tag-reading-city-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}