Best Practice Strategies in the WPFL Donate Life
Best Practice Strategies in the WPFL Donate Life America Spring Meeting Donor Designation Collaborative Learning Session 2 June 12, 2007 Dallas, Texas
Working with a National Partner on a Local Level Ford Motor Company Gift of Life Michigan Bettinna Signori Jennifer Tislerics Special Events & Partnerships Coordinator Communications Senior Employee Benefit Communications bsignori@ford. com jtislerics@giftoflifemichiga n. org
UAW-Ford’s History of Support • UAW-Ford employees and retirees – Long history of supporting many causes – Benefits not only workforce but the community where we live and work • 100, 000+ employees in U. S. • Nearly 100 plants and offices in U. S. • Involved with Organ/Tissue Donation Education Campaigns since 2000 – Agreed-to item in Collective Bargaining Agreement
OPO Support of UAW & Ford • Gift of Life Michigan brought into existing partnership, to facilitate logistics • Collaborated with blood/marrow drives – Regular notifications of upcoming drives – Attended ARC/UAW-Ford celebration luncheon • On agenda for local site coordinator meeting
Gaining Corporate Support • Find an internal champion • Emotional engagement • Identify and involve a recipient • Capitalize on existing relationships Robin Kwasneski Ford employee Heart recipient
Gaining Corporate Support • Utilize connections – OPO/Coalition Board – Transplant Docs or Hospitals – DDC/Local Coalition team contacts • Engage upper management first – Results in corporate-wide support on a national level – opens the door locally • Involve Akoya early in the process – National connections and resources
Keys to Success • Involved OPO! • Educate Partner about donation • Continuous follow-up & regular communication with the corporate contacts • Coordinated effort with local blood banks, National Marrow Donor Program • Action plan – Tailored messaging – Timing – Quantitative Metrics
How to be an “Involved OPO” • Dedicated staff to cultivate relationships • Localize national ideas – fresh twists, materials specific to Partner/state • Upper Management support, good internal communication – Management networks in circles w/ Partner execs • Serve as resource for all plants/offices • Localize materials to each location • Regular emails, invitations to events & WPFL campaign updates
UAW-Ford and “Give 5” • Train the Trainer • Worker to Worker • Flyers as they leave for home • Updated internal & external website • Letter to reps across country re: “Give 5” campaign • Continue to partner with other auto companies, expanding existing donation programs
Gift of Life and “Give 5” • Provide internal training for main contacts at UAW-Ford locations • Specific drop-down on sign-up page indicating UAW & Ford • Ongoing feedback on results • Localized posters, flyers, articles, emails – (hyperlinks to facilitate) • OPO website highlighting success of UAW-Ford partnership
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