Friend To Friend Network Monthly Update

With your support the Friend To Friend Network helped 565 railroad families in need across the system through the end of October. There are many railroad families out there that have a dwelling or health related emergency that we never hear about, especially retirees - so please help to nominate any families you know that qualify for assistance. Remember active and retired railroad employees, their spouse and their children can be nominated for Friend To Friend assistance if they suffer a medical emergency that requires a hospital stay or being off work or a dwelling related emergency that results in severe damage to the primary home.

In October, the Network received fund-raiser checks from Greg Huston representing South Morrill Family Days, Dale Fulenwider representing UPEC Club #54 North Little Rock, Ark., and Debbie Sipple representing UPEC Club # 76 Boone, Iowa.

Special thanks goes out to Friend to Friend ambassador Kelly Rowe from Pine Bluff, Ark., who assisted with an online payroll deduction contribution in October that pushed monthly payroll deductions over the $32,000 mark!! Currently 4,305 employees pledge $32,132 each month to Friend to Friend using payroll deduction.

Remember, the Friend To Friend Network assistance checks help our Railroad families with their immediate needs. In many cases however, these families need additional assistance with counseling and other types of support and we would like to thank Peer Support and other local employee groups who provide additional assistance.

Peer Support Departmental contacts are:

  • Mechanical Dept. - Wayne Thompson - 308-530-3008
  • Engineering Dept. – Joey Smith – 208–850-0682
  • T E & Y & Clerical Employees - Harry Stewart - 903-520-5630

There are many charities to choose from, so remember that when you give to the Friend To Friend Network it is railroad families helping other railroad families and:

  1. Your contribution is 100% tax deductible
  2. Your donation goes to active and retired railroad families like yours in their time of need and
  3. 100% of your donations go directly to the families in need because all administrative costs are covered by volunteers or through sponsorship from the Union Pacific Railroad.

State by State Estimated Active Employee Counts, Payroll Deduction Contributors, Ambassadors and Families Helped (Updated: 10/02/09)

State Active Helped Contributors Ambassadors % Active
Contributors
AR 2784 104 363 9 13%
AZ 1466 43 95 3 6%
CA 5602 197 292 7 5%
CO 1574 75 168 3 11%
IA 2276 78 156 12 7%
ID 1036 21 46 2 4%
IL 3698 90 127 4 2%
KS 1974 58 144 8 7%
LA 1188 118 63 2 5%
MN 465 18 14 1 3%
MO 2854 61 203 7 7%
NE 7955 292 1100 45 13%
NM 383 6 16 0 4%
NV 653 38 104 2 16%
OK 445 27 48 3 11%
OR 1548 70 249 6 16%
TX 8334 478 753 37 9%
UT 1729 12 73 1 4%
WA 686 23 48 3 7%
WI 522 18 17 2 3%
WY 1624 41 142 7 9%
TOTAL 48796 1868 4221 164 9%

 

There still is a great need for Ambassadors in all states and departments. If you are interested in learning more about becoming an Ambassador please contact the Network Committee:

Bob Resch, President Phone: 402-544-5197
Terry Wynn, First Vice President Phone: 402-544-1015
Bill Verhoeff, Second Vice President Phone: 816-245-2377
Richard Baldwin, Treasurer Phone: 501-327-1376
Diane Huntington, Secretary Phone: 636-586-1104
Jim Bell, Company Administrator Phone: 402-544-5433

Thank you. And please look for the latest Friend to Friend information here on our site.