March 24, 2015
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“How many ways can we say, ‘Thank you?’ Try one million, as in over $1,000,000 raised for the first time,” said a jubilant Ken Yunker, United Way Board President.
The United Way of Union County unveiled results from its 2014-15 campaign at its LIVE UNITED Awards Luncheon Tuesday, showing they’ve raised $1,006,400 to help meet the social service needs of our community.
In 2008, United Way of Union County adopted an aggressive Strategic Plan that in part challenged volunteers and staff to grow into a $1 million organization. Though it took a year longer than expected, that dream has become a reality as annual revenues have increased by 25.5% over the last six years.
United Way officials say this was no small feat and was accomplished by the increasing generosity of longtime donors, diversification of revenue streams, and acquisition of new donors.
“I have worked for the United Way since September of 1990 and there have been some significant milestones along the way,” said Shari Marsh, United Way Executive Director. “Each milestone reached brings feelings of joy, accomplishment and true satisfaction with the work we do each and every year at the United Way. While each dollar amount milestone is certainly something worth celebrating, I am more excited about what reaching that milestone means for the community we serve through our Funded Partner Agencies. Each milestone we reach means more lives impacted by our work. For that I am truly grateful for all of our donors, our participating workplace campaigns, our volunteers and our staff.”
United Way staff and volunteers recognized the super heroes in our community Tuesday at the LIVE UNITED Awards. Honda of America, Mfg. won the Campaign Chair Award, United Way’s highest distinction of honor, for its workplace campaign achievements during the 2014-15 campaign. Honda’s contributions to the local United Way this year totaled $239,490 exceeding last year’s mark by over $15,000. Honda paced a milestone fundraiser in which United Way surpassed its $1 million goal, raising $1,006,400. Pictured from left to right: Dave Bezusko, United Way Campaign & Public Relations Director, Shari Marsh, United Way Executive Director, Amy Brown, Honda of America Corporate Affairs, Ginger Haynes, Honda
of America Community Relations, and Mike Rose, Controller at Union Rural Electric and United Way’s Board President.
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The 2014 campaign was one for the record books. A record 19 accounts surpassed the $10,000 mark in giving. Workplace giving increased by 6% over last year. United Way’s top three corporate supporters, Honda of America, Mfg.; Scotts Miracle-Gro; and Nationwide all report increases from last year. Meijer, a newcomer to the local giving scene, raised over $13,000 in its first local campaign. Other employers achieving $10,000 or more included Nestle Product Technology Center, Memorial Health, Marysville Schools, Richwood Banking Company, the State of Ohio (including the Ohio Reformatory for Women), Parker, ContiTech, the City of Marysville, Union County Department of Job & Family Services, Industrial Ceramic Products, and the Ohio State University.
United Way also benefitted from four special fall events that brought in an additional $51,000, including the All-Ohio Balloon Fest, an Online Auction, the Honor Our Heroes Quarter Marathon and 5K, and the LIVE UNITED Radiothon on True Oldies 1270.
United Way’s prestigious Campaign Chair Award, given to the most outstanding workplace, went to Honda of America, Mfg., where giving was up over $15,000 from last year. Workplace Champions Amy Brown and Ginger Haynes attributed the uptick in giving to internal efforts to educate a large number of new associates about Honda’s giving culture.
“Our great associates at Honda really support the communities in which they live,” said Brown.
Donor dollars from this year’s United Way campaign are reaching six area pantries, two shelters, four senior centers, an after-school youth center, a homeless prevention program, rent and utility assistance, disaster relief, prescription medication, hospice care, cancer support, youth activities, and more. In all, 44 programs of 27 Funded Partners are receiving United Way support.
“I am proud to say that over the years of my involvement with the United Way, our staff, board of trustees and committed members of all the committees have continued to focus on outcome-based programs to deliver the ultimate impact to the community,” said Yunker. “Our Community Investment volunteers have implemented various measures to maintain high visibility and high standards of how donor dollars are managed. Similarly, the United Way has continued to coordinate the sponsorship of training sessions open to all area non-profit entities on organization effectiveness and governance. Thank you once again to all, past, present and continuing volunteers who make this a real community impact organization.”
39 workplaces earned a Gold Campaign Award for giving levels achieved this fall. These workplaces have 40% of their employees giving to United Way, have an average employee gift of $150 or more, or provide a 100% corporate match. These include: Allen Yurasek Merklin & Owens-Ruff, Bob Chapman Ford, Cannizzaro Bridges Jillisky & Streng, City of Marysville, Community Action Organization, Conrad Leibold Woerner & Company, ContiTech, Dayton Power & Light, Eufinger Law Offices, Fairbanks Local Schools, Fifth Third Bank, Honda Lock R&D, Industrial Ceramic Products, John Deere Training Center, Liberty National Bank, Loving Care Hospice, Maryhaven, Marysville Public Library, Marysville Schools, McCarthy & Cox, Meijer, Memorial Health, Mental Health & Recovery Board of Union County, Nestle Product Technology Center, Ohio Reformatory for Women, Parker, Richwood Banking Company, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Select Sires, Technology Site Planners, Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Union County Department of Job & Family Services, Union County Family YMCA, Union County Health Department, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union Rural Electric, Walmart, and West Central Correctional Facility.
Seven workplaces earned a Silver Campaign Award for having 30% participation or an average employee gift of $100. These include: Nationwide Children’s Hospital, North Union Local Schools, Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Tolles Career and Technical Center, Union County Auditor’s Office, Union County Engineer’s Office, and Union County Senior Services.
Jonathan Alder Schools earned a Bronze Campaign Award for having 20% participation or an average employee gift of $52.
11 entities earned Good Neighbor Awards for participating with United Way on special projects throughout the year. These include: Adecco, Central Ohio Youth Center, Cue Stick Café, eMarysville.com, Jerome Village, Keller Williams Realty, Marysville Journal-Tribune, Parrott Implement, St. John’s Lutheran Church & School, True Oldies 1270 Radio, and the Union County Coroner’s Office,
United Way’s annual awards luncheon was celebrated at Union Rural Electric with the corporate support of Alan Wilson CPA, Liberty National Bank, and Memorial Health, ensuring that no donor dollars were spent on the recognition event.
United Way works to bring neighbors and resources together to improve lives in Union County. United Way of Union County has raised more than $19 million for local needs since it was established in 1958. More than just a fundraiser, United Way collaborates with local businesses, government, and non-profit organizations to solve pressing social service issues large and small.
For more information, please visit www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org.
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Ken Yunker, outgoing Board President, addressing the crowd at the LIVE UNITED Awards Tuesday at Union Rural Electric. United Way honored its true super heroes in the community, the fundraisers and champions at participating workplaces who help us raise the money each year to do our work. | |
