With less than two weeks remaining in the 2009 campaign, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati is turning to two strategies centered around the Procter & Gamble Co. to draw new business prospects and support the fundraising effort.

The campaign has reached $45.9 million, or 74 percent of the $62 million goal.

The first strategy is the Live United 100, a recognition opportunity for 100 companies with the highest per-capita giving that have between 10 and 500 employees. The companies recognized will come from those that aren’t already recognized by the Top 25, Tremendous 25 or other United Way lists.

To qualify for the new recognition, participating companies must give at least $10,000 through any combination of corporate, employee or special event fundraising. Recognized companies will be mentioned in a sponsored advertisement in the Business Courier and invited to an exclusive Dec. 1 event featuring a conversation with campaign chairman A.G. Lafley, chairman of P&G, and Courier publisher Doug Bolton. Lafley also will be joined by other Greater Cincinnati CEOs, including the CEO representing the top Live United 100 company, for a panel discussion at the event.

“We are at the home stretch of the annual campaign, and we know reaching out to new business prospects is one way we can boost contributions and our support for critical community services,” United Way CEO Rob Reifsnyder said in a news release.

The second strategy aims to target new business in the brand, marketing, design, advertising and architecture industries. United Way and P&G are planning an incentive event for the region’s marketing and design community. The Jan. 6 event at P&G’s world headquarters will feature a conversation about recently announced changes that bring several of the corporation’s business units together as a single brand building organization. The forum will be led by: Marc Pritchard, global brand building officer; Phil Duncan, global design officer; Joan Lewis, global consumer and marketing knowledge officer; and Chris Hassall, global external relations officer.

Eligible companies would be invited by meeting minimum giving levels for new business ($10,000) or increased giving levels for currently participating companies. That’s $10,000 for companies giving less than that amount in 2008 or a 5 percent increase for companies that gave $10,000 or more in 2008.

For more information about the two new strategies, contact Mike Baker at mike.baker@uwgc.org.

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