The Salina Area United Way held its Annual Luncheon on Thursday, March 10, 2011 to recognize those who give, advocate and volunteer. Also shared with the guests during the luncheon were highlights of distinctive impact the United Way has made here in Saline County over the last year.
Community wide donors were recognized based on their giving level. Corporate leaders based on their giving level, number of employees involved in the campaign, and percentage of increased giving were part of the award recognition ceremony. These awards are given in appreciation of their combined support of the Salina Area United Way.
Ted Johnson, Bergkamp, Inc., was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award. Johnson received the award for his additional support in the creation of Advancing Community Together for 2020 and Chairing the committee. He has volunteered countless hours with the ACT for 2020 Committee and increased his support by becoming a board member for the United Way.
Last year’s Campaign Chair, Carolyn Peterson, UMB, was given an award for her outstanding efforts to raise $1.1 million for the 2010 campaign despite challenging economic conditions.
The following semi-finalists and winners who donated to the 2010 campaign were: (* Denotes Winner):
New Donors-Years Supply of Red Baron Pizza
*Karen K. Baltazor Salina-Saline County Health Department
Barbara J. Knight Community Donor
Shirley Leggett Kansas Wesleyan University
Pamela Moeder Advance Auto Parts Distribution Center
Donors who gave > $250 – Nintendo Wii
Tom E. Haynes Salina Public Schools – USD #305
* Elizabeth Miller Salina Regional Health Center
Elizabeth A. Nace COMCARE PA
Brian R. Phillips Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
Megan Wagner Salina Public Schools – USD #305
LIVE UNITED Giving Club > $120 – Seaport Airline Tickets
Cathy Dodge – Cameron Compression Systems
Janet F. Johnston – Bennington State Bank
Bill Pierson – the Salina Journal, Inc.
Dwight P. Tully – Columbia Insurance Group
*Jeff B. Zuercher – Westar Energy
Shareholder Giving 1% of Income – Yamaha Scooter
*Terri L. Dewitt Advance Auto Parts Distribution Center
Karen Durst Salina Physical Therapy
Roberta L. Lamone Domestic Violence Association
Pamela Moeder Advance Auto Parts Distribution Center
James R. Talley Schwan’s Global Supply Chain Inc.
Along with recognition of donors and volunteers, the Salina Area United Way also stated their “distinctive impact” in the Salina area in five meaningful and measurable ways in 2010:
Energizing Others. Experimentation as a Leadership Organization
Advancing Community Together (ACT) for 2020. Leadership is hard and risky. Progress is difficult on daunting and adaptive challenges facing the Salina area. Recognizing these truths the United Way Board decided to create a community building plan. In a bold effort to diagnose the situation for the future of Salina the United Way Board initiated ACT for 2020 to energize all interested persons to help identify the distinctive impact the United Way will make in the next five years.
Improving United Way Kansas 2-1-1. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from any phone. 2-1-1 provides information and referral to resources here in Saline County. As a leadership organization working to advance community together in 2010 resulted in the assessment of information about 159 organizations in the Salina area for United Way Kansas 2-1-1. 63 of these organizations were new to Kansas 2-1-1 in 2010.
Evaluation of Saline County Data. With the work of dozens of volunteers United Way completed an assessment of national, state and local data to evaluate key aspects of Saline County’s education, financial stability and health.
Skillful Intervention. Implementation of the WE COUNT Neighborhood Work Plan-
85% Mail-in Response Rate in 2010 Census. We engaged Salina to a new level of unity and team work. As a result United Way in partnership with the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salina helped implement the comprehensive plan for neighborhood engagement and empowerment with the identification of neighborhood leaders in all 69 Salina neighborhoods.
Stewardship and Management. Reduction of Expenses to Maintain Funding
In 2010 United Way has reduced its number of staff from five to four with no reduction in grants. At the same time United Way stewardship of community funds has increased with all partners having Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reasonable and Timely (S.M.A.R.T.) goals for improvement education, financial stability and health in the Salina area by 2012.
According to Andy Martin, Executive Director, “as a celebration of our successes in 2010, our annual impact report is very unique and distinctive this year. We are pleased to share our Annual Impact Report in partnership with the Salina Journal. Today’s paper has a total of two pages of information that we wanted to share with all of Salina today. Our intent and goal was to be transparent with Salina about what we are doing and to thank the Salina area community for all their support.”
Post By Leslie Duke