Pedro Cabezas Click here to watch the video.

Pedro Cabezas, a TI operations manager in Dallas, has long considered his United Way pledge an investment in the community instead of a cost.

As a Leadership Giver and volunteer who coordinates annual United Way ambassador training for TI employees in the Technology and Manufacturing Group (TMG), Cabezas gives employees the information and knowledge they need to feel comfortable asking other employees to make a United Way pledge.

"I don't ask others to do something I don't do," Cabezas said. "I ask them if they have considered giving to United Way, and if they already have, to give a little more."

Cabezas is one of more than 800 TI employees who are United Way Leadership Givers. Leadership Givers make annual donations of $1,000 or more to TI's United Way campaign.

These employees come from all TI businesses and organizational levels, and make a powerful and positive impact on the lives of others in the communities where TI has a presence.

Cabezas has been a Leadership Giver for more than nine years.

"The return on investment at this level is far greater than I could get in any other situation," he said.

"Knowing that specific agencies, programs and people have been helped with my investment gives me satisfaction."

An important investment
Over the years, Cabezas has come to firmly believe that the more TI employees know about United Way, the more committed they become to being a part of the United Way solution.

"United Way has set specific goals to reach by 2020 and will support only those agencies that have programs with deliverables, which makes each investment even more efficient and effective," he said.

Cabezas views his United Way donation as an asset.

"My contribution, which I call my investment in United Way, is the most efficient way to help," he said.

"There are significant needs in the communities and I believe together we really can make a difference through the power of our collective contribution."