The momentum of the 2006 Community Challenge Match has already begun. United Way of Pierce County announced the Community Challenge Match in February with commitments totaling $1.75 million from Craig & Niki Ueland, Russell Investment Group, George & Dion Russell and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Since the announcement, United Way has earned committments from several new Alexis De Tocqueville donors as well as companies that have not ran a campaign in the past.

For each new or increased gift to the Community Solutions Fund in the 2006 United Way of Pierce County campaign, the increased gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar. When matched by gifts from community donors through the workplace campaign and corporate contributions, this community challenge has the potential of increasing dollars invested in the community by $3.5 to $4 million. Find out more about the match.

More than 100 Pierce County students have earned varsity letters in community service after tallying more than 23,000 hours of service during the year. Every Pierce County school district participated in the fourth year of this one-of-a-kind program where varsity letters, just like those given to athletes and musicians, are awarded for community service.

The Letter Carrier Food Drive hosted by the United States Postal Service, was held Saturday, May 13 and collected over 330,000 pounds of food. The food collected from the food drive was sorted and boxed at Emergency Food Network and sent to area food banks.