United Way Kicks Off Torch Campaign To Raise $42 Million

DETROIT (WWJ) - The United Way of Southeastern Michigan kicked off its 2014 Torch Campaign Monday with a goal of raising $42 million -- up from last year's $40 million.

Michael Brennan, local United Way president, says they're heading in the right direction with respect to their long-term goal: making Metro Detroit one of the top five places to live and work by 2030.

"United Way at its core - its greatest interest is to see things get accomplished on the toughest social issues, and we flat out can not do that alone," said Brennan.

General Motors president and chairman of this year's United Way campaign, Dan Ammann, says providing more education is a top priority.

"The amount of work that we need to do and what is in reality a pretty short amount of time - it brought it home to me - just how much work we have to do," said Ammann. "But I know with the commitment of this team and everybody involved that we can absolutely get where we need to get to."

Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin talked about how the United Way helps families with education, nutrition and financial responsibility. It's a subject that Quin emphasizes in his own home.

"I have a four-year-old and every time he gets some money I always make him throw it in his piggy-bank, make him save it and he loves it - so every time he finds anything - any kind of change on the floor - he wants to save it," said Quin.

The United Way is trying to expand its outreach, trying to bring more volunteers into the fold for their charity work.

Find more information about the United Way of Southeastern Michigan  [HERE].