To refer to 2020 as a challenging year may be a major understatement.  Due to the pandemic, the 2020 Public Service Company of Oklahoma United Way campaign was the first campaign in our history which had to be conducted virtually. Events throughout our service area, which in the past brought employees together to raise funds for the campaign, were unable to be held.  Normally, a themed kick-off event began our campaign, while this year, a creative on-line event marked the start of our campaign.

The nonprofit agencies of the Tulsa Area United Way and the United Way organizations throughout our service area, provide important assistance and programs, including basic human needs services to customers in our communities experiencing emergency situations.  Due to lost jobs and income, many Oklahomans found themselves in need of food, shelter and clothing who had never needed assistance before the pandemic of 2020. These agencies were there to assist those families because of generous donors in their communities.

“Thank you to all of our employees who so generously supported our United Way campaign this year.  In the face of the impacts of the pandemic, our employees demonstrated compassion and caring for our customers and neighbors in need, throughout our service area,” said Peggy Simmons, PSO President and COO.  “The leadership of the PSO United Way Campaign Committee is to be commended for its focus, creative strategies and outreach to employees across our company to achieve a successful 2020 campaign.”

Jacob Miller, Regulatory Consultant and Chair of PSO’s campaign, said, “In a year when the need for services offered by United Way’s partner agencies is greater than usual, our employees stepped up in a big way. Even without our traditional fundraising events, we were able to surpass last year’s overall contribution through an increased level of employee giving.  We are pleased to announce that our 2020 campaign generated $350,114.24 for five United Way designations across the state. Thank you to all 411 employees who gave to this year’s campaign.”

Miller added, “I also want to thank Christi Lee, JT Davis, Kathryn Roemer, Michael Noojin, and Paul McCurtain of the United Way Campaign Committee, along with all the volunteers that helped us out this year. Our campaign looked very different than what we had envisioned back in February but their efforts allowed us to achieve a successful virtual campaign.”