Meet Campaign Volunteer Mark Corral - Friday, July 25, 2008

An Interview with Mark Corral
UPS

How long have you been with UPS and what is your position?

I began my UPS career in June of 2005. I am currently an Account Manager for UPS in the Business Development Department in Fort Wayne. I also serve as Business Developments’ United Way contact, coordinating community volunteer activities.

Give us a little history about the UPS campaign – has there been increased enthusiasm over the last few years?

Year over year, UPS as a corporation leads the country in United Way giving. In fact, as a company we so believe in United Way’s mission that it is written in our policy book. Thousands of volunteer hours as well as dollars are given to various agencies throughout our communities. For two weeks out of the year, here in Fort Wayne, we have a campaign that allows UPSers to give monetary donations to United Way. UPSers do this through the annual pledge card process. We have different levels of monetary giving, including Leadership level, which recognizes those individuals who are very generous in their giving. In this two week period, we also run special campaigns, such as our “Fill the Truck” campaign. The last couple of years we have filled a truck up with food and donated to local food banks. In this two week period, we also reach out to United Way of Allen County to speak at our center to kickoff our campaign. This really goes over well, as United Way of Allen County does a fantastic job inspiring our management and operation workgroups. I feel that enthusiasm has really grown for United Way in the last few years. I find more and more UPSers involved in monthly United Way meetings. Certainly, our golf outing seems to be filled year in and year out.

What is one event or idea you use at UPS that other campaigns could use to make their campaigns more successful?

In coordinating United Way activities, I am always amazed how giving people are of themselves. For example, our UPS golf outing was solely a UPS Business Development event. The golf outing has now grown into other UPS workgroups participating in the outing from doing cooking to donating prize giveaways to actually participating in the golf outing themselves. The golf outing has actually become a nice “team-building” event for UPS! Golf outings take some coordination, but golf courses are very helpful in the organization of an outing. If a company is looking for an idea to support their United Way campaign, golf outings are a great way to raise awareness. Hey, any day is a good day when you are on the golf course!

Why do you personally give to and believe in United Way?

I give to and believe in United Way for lots of reasons. First, I was blessed by my family upbringing to have a giving spirit. My parents set a good example for me in giving of themselves for the community I grew up in. In following that example, I feel I set a good example to my family, friends, and co-workers at UPS in giving of my time, especially to United Way. Along with this, I do feel United Way is the most effective way of putting charitable dollars to work. Finally, I am blessed to work for a company, like UPS, that supports and enables its employees to be fully immersed in United Way activities.

Tell us a little about you personally – your career, family and interests.

I have been with UPS for three years, but have been in the transportation industry for over 15. I am married to a wonderful woman named Leslie. We have two children, Jordan and Nicholas. We attend St. Jude Church here in Fort Wayne. Outside UPS, I volunteer my time in the community. I serve on the Board of Directors for United Way Agency SCAN. I am also a Little League coach at Elmhurst Little League. My interests include running; I finished my 9th mini marathon in Indianapolis this past May! I love to play golf in my free time enjoy rooting on the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bears and Fort Wayne Komets.

7/08