Community rallies to raise $1 million for United Way again
United Way volunteers gathered around the giant Thermometer on the Logan County Courthouse lawn Wednesday to move the marker past the $1 million goal for the fourth straight year.
A total of $1,020,732 has been pledged thus far to the 2021 United Way campaign so far to support the organization’s fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Logan County.
The campaign ends Dec. 31.
Logan County continues to be the smallest community in the state to ever raise $1 million for its local United Way.
Dave Bezusko, United Way executive director, said this year may be remembered as the “Year of the Corporate Gift.”
Local corporations and small businesses have combined for a 22 percent jump in corporate giving that accounts for more than a third of the amount raised, sparked by a $133,045 pledge from the American Honda Motor Company that will mark the largest corporate gift ever made to the United Way of Logan County.
A $60,000 corporate gift from NEX Transport supplements the $124,302 employees gave through the year. Marker, Inc. will be matching employee pledges to the tune of $40,716 for a workplace campaign that exceeded $81,000.
In keeping with the corporate giving theme, it was Monday’s announcement of the $20,815 corporate pledge from PCPI Plastics matching employee giving that pushed the campaign over the $1 million goal.
Two other donor sub-groups trended upward in giving. Teachers and staff of the Logan County school districts combined to raise more than $91,000, a 34 percent increase over last year, with records set at Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Indian Lake and West Liberty-Salem Schools.
United Way’s Residential Campaign, comprising individual donors who give online or via direct mail have combined to give 22 percent more as well, giving over $87,000 to date. More than 2,500 individual donors from 45 workplaces throughout the county are participating via payroll deduction.
The community has responded to exceed United Way’s campaign goal for eight straight years, dating back to 2014. There’s still a chance that the all-time record — $1,059,313 raised in 2019 — could be eclipsed, Bezusko said.
Money raised by United Way will support 46 programs of 27 Logan County human service agencies in 2022.
United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of everyone in Logan County. It does so by facilitating successful agency partnerships that enable a safe, healthy, and caring community. More than just a fundraiser, United Way collaborates with businesses, non-profits, government, and civic organizations to help meet the social service needs of the community.
For more information, visit www.uwlogan.org or call (937) 592-2886.