Boeing

Employees of The Boeing Company have earned the top spot as the most generous employee group of any North American company this year. Their two-week fundraising campaign ended in May, and by year-end it is estimated that employees will have raised more than $36.3 million to help their communities where they live and work. That tops the 1997 campaign high of $31.8 million raised by General Motors employees for United Way.

In the Puget Sound area, where the company has its headquarters, Boeing people contributed more than $20 million in 1997. More than $3 million in direct grants were given to health and human services agencies, and $17 million was contributed through local United Ways. This year, Boeing employees will raise about $23 million to help their communities in 10 western Washington counties.

Boeing employees run the annual campaign for the Employees Community Fund - the world's largest employee-owned charitable organization. The Fund is locally managed and controlled at Boeing sites across North America, where employees elect board members and determine how their local contributions are distributed.

The boards make grants to help their communities where help is needed most. Contributions benefit a broad range of health and human services agencies, providing assistance such as after-school care for at-risk youth, services for seniors and shelters for the homeless. In many parts of the country, United Way and its affiliated agencies receive a majority of the dollars raised. Some contributions are directed to arts and cultural organizations, education institutions and programs, and civic and environmental groups.