The generosity of Bellefontaine City Schools’ employees was recognized this week by the United Way of Logan County during the annual LIVE UNITED Awards Ceremony at the Holland Theatre.
The United Way of Logan County annual campaign raised a record $1,069,007 last fall. It’s the fourth straight year the county has surpassed $1 million.
BCS employees gave a school record of $30,527. BCS Schools recent campaign history includes: 2011: $20,638; 2012: $17,042; 2013: $15,558; 2014: $14,776; 2015: $17,001; 2016: $22,634; 2017: $13,962; 2018: $25,827; 2019: $21,767; and 2020: $23,431.
United Way of Logan County Executive Director Dave Bezusko recapped the record BCS donation.
“The big change occurred last fall, when we did the campaign right out of the shoot on the first day the teachers were back. That allowed deductions to occur over the course of the entire school year.
“In years’ past, the UW campaign was in October and we only collected over 10 months of pay periods. So you, as an individual, could give the same amount per pay, but it was a larger donation over the course of the year. The strategy worked.”
This year, the seven local school districts also combined to raise more than $96,000, Bezusko noted.
“Of course, they do it without the benefit of a corporate match (it’s not possible in public school districts). Five of the seven set new giving records. Three achieved major giving milestones. In all, it was a 36 percent increase in giving from just last year.
“I have never seen an entire sector have such a tremendous increase. I think there are multiple reasons for it. For one, teachers see the benefit of United Way programming in their classrooms every day. They spend all day in the classrooms with their students and know which ones are benefitting from United Way programs when they are at home.
“Two, the incredible giving spirit of teachers, who give so much of themselves to their students each day. And three…the passion and leadership of the workplace champions, who mobilized their teams so very well.”
For more information, visit www.uwlogan.org or call 937-592-2886.