137 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ 85201  480-969-8601
Fax: 480-834-8184  www.mesaunitedway.org  email: info@mesaunitedway.org
REALITY CHECK
DIRECTIONS:
Preparation before the meeting:
1. Gather enough fake money so that each attendee gets one $500 bill to use in
the activity.
Tip #1: If the size of the employee group is too large to have each individual
participate, select how many people you would like to have participate and
hand out the money at the beginning of the meeting or,
Tip #2: To expedite the process, pre-tape the bills and attach them to the front
of the table or chair where the attendees are sitting. This way they will have
everything they need when you give them their directions.
2. Using a wall in the meeting room that has easy access for the group to
approach, post each example. These sheets should be side by side about 6
inches apart so that people can go down the line and review and then choose
which one they are going to direct their pledge toward.
Conducting the activity during your meeting:
1. Tell attendees that you want to lead them in a quick activity that will really
show them what Mesa United Way does in the community. Draw their
attention to the examples on the walls and explain that these represent just
some of the people in need throughout our community. Focus on the different
types of people represented: crisis situations, children and youth, families.
2. Instruct them to take the $500 bill you have provided them and ask them to
approach the wall and select the one scenario they want to help with their
pledge. Remind them that they can only select one.
3. After everyone has “spent” their pledge and returned to their seats, ask the
following three questions of the group. Be sure to involve the group and make
this a discussion. Get 2-3 answers from different people for each question
before moving on.
1. How did you choose which person you were going to help?
2. What other information would you have liked to have as you made
your decision?
3. Do you wish you could have helped more than one or even all the
people represented on the wall?
4. Review which scenarios got help and which scenarios didn’t. * If there is an
example of a scenario that didn’t get any pledge money directed to them, take
them off the wall, crumble them up and toss them on the floor.*Note: If each
scenario receives money, there are a few points you can incorporate into your
message to the group:
 You can point out that it is great that each person represented received
Uniting Community ● Inspiring Donors ● Improving Lives
CORPORATE CHAMPIONS
Humanitarian
Salt River Project
The Boeing Company
QuikTrip
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Philanthropist
Farnsworth Companies
Benefactor
Eastmark
Nationwide Insurance
WalMart
Nina Pulliam Charitable Trust
Enterprise
State Farm Insurance
Crescent Crown
CMC Steel Arizona
Mesa Public Schools
Inspirer
Chase Bank
Arizona Republic
Bank of America
Berge Ford
Cox Communications
Empire Southwest
Ford Motor Credit
Whiteman 4G Foundation
UPS
Target Corporation
Macy’s
Costco
United Health Group
Patron
Davis Family Foundation
Bard Peripheral Vascular
JC Penney
Jackson White
MGC Pure Chemicals, America, Inc.
Nammo Tally
Value Village/Savers Thrift Stores
Corner Store
First Baptist Church of Scottsdale
Century Link
Mesa Rotary Foundation
Leisure World Community
Able Steel Fabricators
Cardinals Charities
Flinn Foundation
Schmidt Westergard & Co. PLLC
The Timken Company
T. Dan Wollam
President/CEO
137 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ 85201  480-969-8601
Fax: 480-834-8184  www.mesaunitedway.org  email: info@mesaunitedway.org
5.
6.
7.
8.
some help. However, there are many other needs in the community that
have not been represented here. The money given to United Way can
address these needs as well.
 You can also point out that although each person received some money to
help meet their most immediate needs, many of them will need on-going
help and more than one service or program to get back on their feet.
Announce the good news! Together with Mesa United Way, they have the
opportunity to help more than just one person or address more than one
health and human service issue in our community Mesa United Way brings
together the right partners to get things done. Together with your support
United Way can do what no one single organization can do alone – guide local
community members to achieve their potential through education and become
self-sufficient by earning a stable income.
Highlight a person who might have multiple needs for services, i.e. the single
mother of 3 who can’t afford childcare on her current wage. Your gift not only
helps her provide safe and quality childcare (Ensure Children and Youth
Succeed) so she can continue working. But then what? She is going to need
other services perhaps job skills training, affordable transportation and
financial education coaching (Increase the Financial Stability of Families and
Individuals). Furthermore, if she doesn’t get help now she could soon
experience difficulty with the basic needs such as providing steady meals for
her kids or making difficult decisions like buying food or paying rent. (End
Hunger and Homelessness) Mesa United Way will ensure that this woman and
her children will get a new start on a better life.
Go back to the person or persons who didn’t get help, open them up and then
put them back on the wall. Explain that United Way effectively creates change
at two vital levels: 1) driving systemic change that impacts entire communities
making Mesa a better place for ALL of us to live, work and raise our families;
and 2) transform individual lives every day.
Last thing: Ask people to seriously consider directing all or part of their gift to
Mesa United Way to help achieve three vital community objectives, 1) Ensure
Children and Youth Succeed, 2) End Hunger and Homelessness and 3) Increase
the Financial Stability of Families and Individuals. It is truly the best way to
make a difference in our community. Together we are improving lives and
entire communities
CORPORATE CHAMPIONS
Humanitarian
Salt River Project
The Boeing Company
QuikTrip
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Philanthropist
Farnsworth Companies
Benefactor
Eastmark
Nationwide Insurance
WalMart
Nina Pulliam Charitable Trust
Enterprise
State Farm Insurance
Crescent Crown
CMC Steel Arizona
Mesa Public Schools
Inspirer
Chase Bank
Arizona Republic
Bank of America
Berge Ford
Cox Communications
Empire Southwest
Ford Motor Credit
Whiteman 4G Foundation
UPS
Target Corporation
Macy’s
Costco
United Health Group
Patron
Davis Family Foundation
Bard Peripheral Vascular
JC Penney
Jackson White
MGC Pure Chemicals, America, Inc.
Nammo Tally
Value Village/Savers Thrift Stores
Corner Store
First Baptist Church of Scottsdale
Century Link
Mesa Rotary Foundation
Leisure World Community
Able Steel Fabricators
Cardinals Charities
Flinn Foundation
Schmidt Westergard & Co. PLLC
The Timken Company
T. Dan Wollam
President/CEO
Uniting Community ● Inspiring Donors ● Improving Lives