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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowEli Lilly and Co. CEO John Lechleiter and his wife, Sarah, have pledged to give the United Way
of Central Indiana a total of $1 million over the next four years as a “challenge to CEOs and other community leaders to step
up their giving.”
United Way said today in a press release that it hopes the high-profile donation will spur more “leadership”
gifts of $25,000 or more, or help recruit other CEOs as new donors.
The Eli Lilly and Co. Foundation will match the
Lechleiters’ contribution.
The local United Way is trying to catch up with other cities that have seen more success
in recruiting top-tier donors, said Angela Dabney, senior vice president of resource development. United Way of Central Indiana
plans to use more challenge grants to raise its ranks of wealthy donors.
Last October, WellPoint CEO Angela Braly and
her husband, Doug, pledged $300,000 over three years. The money is used as matching grants for donors who want to join United
Way’s Tocqueville Society, which requires $10,000 a year in donations, or Women United, which requires $2,500.
So far,
United Way has raised $160,000 through the Braly matching gift.
The Lechleiters are already deeply involved with United
Way. John Lechleiter is on the board of directors. Sarah Lechleiter was one of the founding members of Women United in 2003.
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