United Way Workplace Champions were saluted on Wednesday for helping to raise over $956,000 for the Union County community. That was 87% of the organization’s $1,100,000 goal for 2017-18. Campaign dollars raised are then allocated to the 25 Partner Agencies to support 40 programs that United Way funds throughout Union County.
“Our campaign awards are a great way to recognize and celebrate the generosity of our community in supporting the United Way,” Ben Vollrath, Campaign Chair, explained,
“All the organizations represented at the awards were clearly proud and excited to be part of something bigger than themselves.”
Highlights from money raised by donors over the past year include:
Over 16,000 books were mailed to 1,400 pre-school aged children in Union County who are members of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library,
instilling a love of reading from an early age and helping to create a home library for each member.
With the community’s assistance, almost 34,000 meals were delivered through the Food Pantry Network that includes pantries in Marysville,
Milford Center, Plain City and Richwood. This network is overseen by The Salvation Army.
Union County’s donations helped 93 community members of the area who are battling cancer and were provided patient assistance by the Union County Cancer Society.
Finally, almost 75,000 meals were provided by the Memorial Meals Program for approximately 4,600 residents through the Mobile Meals and Community Meals programs.
In addition, dollars raised from this year’s United Way campaign are used to provide basic needs like food, hygiene items, and shelter, as well as aiding with disaster response, early literacy, mental health counseling, legal matters, substance abuse prevention/recovery, and needed prescriptions. In all, 40 programs of 25 Funded Partners are receiving United Way support.
70 businesses and/or organizations were awarded with a 2017 Celebrate United Awards, once again demonstrating the community’s continual support of United Way and its mission. The 2017 Campaign Chair Award, United Way’s top honor given to the most outstanding workplace, was presented to UCO.
UCO was chosen for growing their campaign by 25 times this year by increased employee giving and workplace fundraisers. “We are grateful to work with a
fellow non-profit that created integrated employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and to others in our community,” Corinne Bix, Campaign Director, said.
31 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 $10 or more, or provide a 100% corporate match. These include: Allen, Yurasek,Merklin & Owens-Ruff; Bob Chapman Ford; Conrad, Leibold, Woerner & Company; Conti-Tech; Dayton Power & Light; Honda of America; Liberty National Bank; Loving Care Hospice; Marysville Public Library; Marysville Schools; McCarthy & Cox; Memorial Health; Mental Health & Recovery Board; Moriroku Technology North America; Nationwide; Nestle Product Technology Center; Parker; Richwood Bank; Scotts Miracle-Gro; Select Sires; Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems; TECHnology Site Planners; Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities; Union County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Bureau; Union County Commissioner’s Office; Union County Department of Job & Family Services; Union County Family YMCA; Union County Health Department; Union County Prosecutor’s Office; Union Rural Electric; and WSI Talent.
Eight workplaces earned a Silver Campaign Award for having 30% participation or an average employee gift of $5 per week. These include: City of Marysville; Costco; Fairbanks; Huntington Bank; Maryhaven; North Union Schools; Union County Engineer’s Department and the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Central Ohio Youth Center; Jonathan Alder Schools; Meijer; and Tolles Career and Technical Center earned Bronze Campaign Awards for having 20% participation or an average employee gift of $50.
25 entities earned Good Neighbor Awards for participating with United Way on special projects throughout the year. These include: Adecco; Alan Wilson CPA; Care Train; Culver’s of
Marysville; Georgia Tobin; Eufinger Law Offices; Honda Accessory America; Honda Federal Credit Union; Honda R&D; Interim Health Care; Jerome Village Company; Junior Library Guild;
The Virginia Golan Group of Keller Williams Realty; LeCrone Communications; Lowe’s Home Improvement; Mailings by Brooke; Marysville Moose Family Center; Parrott Implement; St. John’s Lutheran Church & School;
Techknowlogic; The Winchester Institute; The Marysville Journal-Tribune; True Oldies 1270; Union County Foundation and WalMart.
United Way’s annual awards luncheon was celebrated at Union Rural Electric with the corporate support of Jerome Village; Alan Wilson CPA; Dayton Power & Light; Interim Health Care; Liberty National Bank; and Union County Foundation, 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 $20 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.
United Way presented UCO with the Campaign Chair Award, United Way’s highest distinction of honor, for its workplace campaign achievements during the 2017-18 campaign. Pictured from left to right: Dan Gardner, Jessica Joseph, David Amerine, Sarah Snapp, Tonya Hamby and Bobbi Fraker.
