By Deb Kelly, The Tribune-Star
deb.kelly@tribstar.com
TERRE HAUTE - The movement of the world's largest pharmaceutical company out of Terre Haute means the area's largest charitable organization may be struggling to fill a void in the coming months.
The United Way of the Wabash Valley - an organization that serves member agencies in Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties in Indiana and Clark County in Illinois - has in the past been able to count on Pfizer Inc.'s annual contribution, the largest contribution each year.
The news of Pfizer's departure, and the loss of 140 jobs in Terre Haute, will hit the United Way particularly hard, according to Nick Mahurin, United Way Board president.
"Pfizer [has] been the number one largest contributor to the United Way in the Wabash Valley," Mahurin said in a phone interview Tuesday. "There really isn't any getting around that it's going to be a pretty substantial impact."
For the 2007 campaign, Pfizer gave $360,000 to the fund - $180,000 in pledges from Pfizer employees and a $180,000 employer match - which was honored even after the company announced the loss of 660 jobs in January this year.
The contribution amounted to almost 20 percent of the UWWV's 2007 funds.
United Way officials are remaining positive, however.
"In the United Way, we're always trying to broaden our tent," Mahurin said. "Our campaign is made up of people through all walks of life in the community - from management to labor to the person who says, sure, take $10 out of my check each week, that seems like a good cause.
"We have a pretty broad tent and we're always looking to broaden it," he added. "Those discussions have been reinvigorated."
The goal for the 2008 campaign has not yet been established, Mahurin said.
"Our United Way is concerned about it really from all angles," he said. "From the reduction in funding and a corresponding increase in needs. It's going to require a lot of people putting their heads together in our community to try to figure out how we're going to cope with that and keep a safety net under those people most at-risk in our community."
Troy Fears, who will start as the United Way of the Wabash Valley's new executive director June 16, said, "Pfizer has been a big part of our community for so long that it's tough for all of us, it's a tough loss for the entire community.
"At the same time, it's one we've kind of seen coming," Fears added.
"We've started to put our heads together, and we need to come together as a community and overcome this to meet the needs of our community members," he said.
Interim executive director J. Robert Quatroche, who was named to that position in late March, and who has been involved with the agency for many years, said, "First of all, I think ... the decision by Pfizer to leave Terre Haute and the Valley certainly is very, very disappointing, however, I think we have to keep in mind what a tremendous partner they have been in philanthropy over the years, not only for the United Way but for so many other not-for-profits ... They're going to be sorely missed.
"It will affect the 2008 campaign, no doubt about that, but ... we have to think in a positive mode, and we will, and we'll find some strategies, I hope," Quatroche continued. "It's a lot of money to recoup and replace - but I think if we're creative and work together as a team ... we'll find ways of dealing with it."