Lance Reyes' guest blogger

Lance Reyes, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and United Way Board Member, is our guest blogger this week.  Lance is a great guy, committed, engaged and energetic.  He's the dad of two beautiful girls and was last year's campaign chair.  Welcome, Lance...

I’ve had the good fortune to work with an amazing group of individuals during the annual United Way Campaigns for the last 10 years.  As last year’s Campaign Chair I was humbled by the support of this community, we call home, during a time of critical need.  Though for the first time in a decade my work schedule prevents me from enjoying the great times had during the fall campaign, I am excited and encouraged by what I see thus far.  I’m also thrilled at the opportunity to use this forum to share my thoughts.  I’m extremely competitive by nature and I do not like to be beat, with one exception. I LOVE the fact that this years’ campaign is off to the races with extraordinary early success at nearly double the fund’s raised to date as compared to last year’s campaign!  This is a testament to the fact that every year, the right leaders return to Campaign and newcomers bring with them a contagious energy  and willingness to give of themselves and benefit others.  My office was fortunate to send one such “newbie” to volunteer as a Loaned Executive this year.  Her enthusiasm and optimism after returning from the Kick-Off day was refreshing and familiar.   I look forward to hearing of the reports of success in the coming weeks at our Board Meetings and I hope to join in the celebrations by attending a couple of the luncheons.  I consider myself fortunate to raise my family in Southern Oregon and proud to be neighbors with such a giving community.  There are so many wonderful organizations and volunteers in our valley who expend their time, energy and valuables to see to it that our neighbors in need have critical resources available.  I feel United Way of Jackson County continuously reads the pulse of this community like no other.  For this reason, I am proud to support the United Way of Jackson County.

And United Way of Jackson County is proud to have Lance!  Onward,