Campaign Goes over the top

Greater Ottawa County United Way has completed its annual community campaign, and Thursday night (March 25, 2010) it announced campaign results and honored outstanding campaign companies, nonprofit community partners, and volunteers at its annual Celebration Dinner. One of the highlights of the event, held at Grand Haven Golf Club, was the announcement of a successful campaign, with a total raised of $1,885,917. 
   “Our goal was $1.8 million, and we are thrilled to bring the campaign in at nearly 5 percent above goal,” said Campaign Chair Larry Koops. “We set what we believed was a realistic and achievable goal based on reduced employment in Ottawa County companies, and then hundreds of people worked really hard and thousands gave very generously to help us achieve –and ultimately exceed—that goal.”

[In the photo here, taken by Nick Devries, Devries Photo, Campaign Chair Larry Koops, with back to camera, celebrates as "Deal or No Deal" host Patrick Moran reveals he picked the right case, containing the campaign results. It was all part of the fun of Celebration 2010, which also featured performances by the Lakeshore String Quartet and the Grand Haven Choral Ensemble. To see more photos of Celebration, go to www.devriesphoto.com, click on web proofs, events, then United Way Celebration. ]

Highlights of the campaign include 233 workplace campaigns completed, with 46 percent of those showing increases or staying the same compared with 2009 results. For the seventh year in a row, United Way received a challenge from an anonymous donor who offered to match all new or increased leadership gifts (gifts of $500 or more from an individual or household) made by residents of the Tri-Cities, up to $30,000. Louann Werksma, United Way Director of Development, reported that 84 new or increased leadership gifts totaling $57,465 were received from Tri-Cities residents, handily meeting that challenge. 
      Retiree giving was up 23 percent over last year, as well, and four “beyond the workplace” events brought in nearly $4,000 since October. These included “Feel the Zeel of Giving” during December in Zeeland and a “Dine Out for Good” promotion, with seven restaurants throughout Ottawa County donating a percentage of sales on given days, in March. 
      United Way President Patrick Moran said, “Partnerships with local businesses and downtown groups not only help raise the funds needed to advance the common good in our community, they raise awareness of our work and the needs of our neighbors.”
      United Way officials said that their work could not be done without the generosity of corporate partners and volunteers alike. A “bumper crop” of   44 volunteers comprised this year’s Campaign Cabinet, and 63 community members volunteered to work on community investment panels, to decide where the dollars that are raised should be allocated. 
      “All, in all, there is plenty to celebrate this year, because we surpassed our goal, and there are many positive signs that indicate we can build from here,” Werksma added. 
      Among the successes celebrated at Thursday’s event, United Way applauded individuals and teams for their hard work and ingenuity. Christina Smith of The Holland Sentinel received the Joe Martella Above and Beyond Award. This award is given to a company campaign coordinator who finds new ways to emphasize the importance of, and add excitement to, his or her company’s workplace campaign.
      Four Ottawa County companies—AD Bos Vending Services and The Holland Sentinel in Holland, and JSJ Corporation and Anderson Technologies in Grand Haven--were the recipients of the major Cappon & Bertsch Community Builder Award. This award recognizes the companies that GIVE, ADVOCATE, and VOLUNTEER within the community and on behalf of United Way. 
      The prestigious G.W. Haworth Strength of the Community Award was presented to Jeffrey Beswick, a resident of Grand Haven and partner in the Grand Haven office of Varnum Law. This award recognizes the organization and/or individual that exemplifies United Way’s leadership spirit of volunteering, philanthropy, and community problem-solving. Beswick was honored for two decades of service to and leadership of numerous organizations in Ottawa County, including Loutit District Library Board, Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, Grand Haven Rotary, Tri-Cities Area Soccer Association, Hospice of North Ottawa Community, Junior Achievement, and United Way.
      In keeping with United Way’s LIVE UNITED philosophy, the Celebration focused on more than just campaign success. Megan Bos, a Black River High School student who has volunteered more than 1,000 hours in her community, was named Volunteer of the Year. Community Action House, a United Way community partner agency, received the Pinnacle of Partnership Award. United Way Director of Community Impact DeLaLuz Vanderby  updated Celebration guests on the progress of work on the Community Impact Model introduced last year, and President Patrick Moran presented the new Community Report Card.

 “United Way and its board, staff, and volunteers can’t thank our Ottawa County communities enough for their generosity and continuous dedication to making Ottawa County a better place to live and work,” said Moran. “Because of the partnership between investors, volunteers, and programs, we are able to put in place the building blocks of a better life for everyone in Ottawa County.