Pillar Society Members Share Their Reasons for Giving 6 August 2010

In 1996, United Way volunteers established a way to recognize the top donors of the organization, creating the Pillar Society for individuals giving at leadership levels. There were 49 Pillars that first year. Today, there are 282 who combined to give over $247,000 in the 2009-10 campaign -- about 46% of the individual donations to United Way of Union County! Pillar Society members are true ôpillarsö of our community, giving of their time, talent, and treasure to make an impact in our neighborhoods and places of work. They are shining examples of commitment to our community. “Cathy and I have been Union County residents for 32 years,” said John Gore, Director of the Union County Department of Job & Family Services and Marysville City Councilman. “We have raised our four children in Union County. And contributing to United Way has allowed us to support various organizations through one contribution.” “We have contributed to United Way for many years and it's just part of our annual giving budget,” said Bob and Linda Schwyn. “Knowing that people and organizations within our community are helped by our contributions feels good.” Membership in the Pillar Society begins at $500 and includes recognition in our annual Membership Directory and invitations to social networking functions. Pillar Society events have been a way to connect in our community. Debbie Boer lives in Marysville and commutes to Franklin County to her job at Nationwide. “I don’t work in town and I didn’t grow up here,” said Boer. “So Pillar Society events have been a great opportunity for me to meet new people and have raised my awareness of issues our community faces. I've also learned how United Way agencies are helping and how I can help as an individual.” After coming to her first Pillar Society function last fall, she became a volunteer on the Community Care Day and Marketing Committees and is now a Board Member. Three cheers for Pillar Society Members, who gave more than ever before in 2009! Here, Pillars socialize at a Wine Tasting event held in their honor at Plain CityÆs Eldchrist Winery in February. “With United Way I'm confident that my contributions will be used effectively,” Boer said. “They have a 50,000-foot view of community needs while evaluating service providers and holding them accountable for achieving results. I could never apply that rigor on my own if I were choosing an organization to support.” Some Pillars say the best benefit is fulfilling their desire to help those in need. “Everyone has been affected in some way by these tough economic times, said José Banaag. “With some, the negative impact has been a bit more severe. If we are among those who are fortunate enough to enjoy life's many blessings, then we owe it to ourselves to share these blessings. The reward of being able to touch someone's life is immeasurable. My employer (Honda) matches my contributions 50 cents to a dollar, making what I give go even farther.” Pillar Society Levels of Giving* Platinum Pillar - Annual household gift of $2,500 or more Gold Pillar - Annual household gift between $1,000 and $2,499 Silver Pillar - Annual household gift between $750 and $999 Bronze Pillar - Annual household gift between $500 and $749 * You can combine your gift with that of your spouse to reach the Pillar Society Level. “Giving at the Pillar Society level was a stretch for us in the early years, but well worth the sacrifices we made. It's a priority for us and we would encourage everyone in our community to challenge themselves to give generously. Becoming a Pillar Society Member requires a contribution of only $10 a week. The return on our money is multiplied when we see the good that it does in our community” ~ Bob & Linda Schwyn