The United Way of Logan County celebrated Thursday afternoon at the Live United Awards Luncheon raising a total of $1,059,313 breaking past years’ records in a short, four-month’s span kicked off in August.
This marks the second consecutive year the United Way of Logan County’s campaign has exceeded $1 million.
Dave Bezusko, United Way of Logan County executive director, lead a Thursday afternoon sold-out ceremony at Green HIlls Foundation Hall in West Liberty acknowledging Logan County community members and organizations which have contributed to the new record.
“Today is about the opportunity to say thanks and to recognize and honor all of the corporate partners for choosing United Way to achieve philanthropic impact in Logan County,” he said.”It’s humbling to see how the community trusts us to accomplish the charitable work they want to see done in the community. We promise to be good stewards of donor dollars.”
The United Way of Logan County’s campaign totals have increased throughout seven consecutive years, from 2012 to 2019 for a 71 percent increase in annual giving, according to a United Way press release.
The totals spanning from 2011 to 2019 have grown from $622,411 to this year’s more than $1 million.
Fifty-nine work places received awards for their efforts during this year’s ceremony.
Some of the top earners with combined corporate and employee support include: NEX Transport raising $200,504; Honda of America Manufacturing raising $141,834; Marker raising $66,856; AGC Automotive raising $51,668; and Mary Rutan Hospital raising $46,535.
Fifty-two programs of 31 funded agencies are supported in 2020 by United Way allocations. These include the following: 211 Information & Referral Hotline for $11,500; 4C for Children for $35,059; Bellefontaine Police Department for $5,000; Bridges Community Action Partnership for $8,000; and Caring Kitchen for $10,000.
Marker Construction claimed one of the Traveling Trophies, given to the workplace with the highest per capita giving, by breaking the all-time record for that statistic in the Large Business
Division with a $501 per capita gift which resulted in a total associate and its corporate pledge which was a $20,000 jump for the workplace — the largest this year.
Marker President Alison Marker, who served as United Way’s Campaign Chair this year, said simply, she was amazed.
“Today I was completely surprised by our final number,” she said. “To me, more than anything, I’m really grateful for the people in Logan County. They really care about everybody here.”
Marker said she was happy to be a part of the celebration of so many people coming together who worked together to raise money for Logan County people who need it most.
“United Way is a really, really great program,” she said. “It’s not just about people who need certain resources, It can be about people who need hospice care and just programs for people who really need it. It just feels really good to be a part of something bigger.”
Marker said she thinks Logan County is just a really special place.
“It’s a big day for the community and the people who need it,” she said. “It’s nice to know the programming will be able to continue.”
The Small Business Division Traveling Trophy didn’t travel as Vectren claimed the prize for the third year in a row. Vectren set a per capita giving record exceeding $1,700, with the small Bellefontaine office staff and corporate match totaling $13,946.
Gold Campaign Awards, achieving at least 60 percent employee participation, a $200 or
higher average employee gift, or a 100 percent corporate match include: AGC Automotive; Bellefontaine City Schools; Belletech Corporation; Choice Properties Real Estate; Citizens Federal Savings & Loan; City of Bellefontaine; Community Health & Wellness Partners;
Daido Metal USA; Hill & Hamilton; Honda Transmission Manufacturing; Indian Lake Schools; Liberty National Bank; Logan County Auditor’s Office; Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities; Logan County Department of Job & Family Services; Logan County Electric Cooperative; Logan County Family Court; Lutheran Community Services; Marker Construction; Mary Rutan Hospital; NetGain Information Systems; NEX Transport; Powerbuilt; Precision Custom Products; RTC Services; Smith, Smith, Montgomery & Chamberlain; Spartan Nash; Steve Austin’s Auto Group; Thompson Dunlap & Heydinger; Transportation Research Center; Vectren; and V-Teck Communications.
Silver Campaign Awards, achieving at least 50 percent employee participation or a $150 or more average employee gift include: Honda of America Manufacturing; Logan County Children’s Services; the Logan County Commissioners’ Office; Ohio Hi-Point Career Center; and World Class Plastics.
Bronze Campaign Awards, achieving at least 40 percent employee participation or a $100 or more average employee gift include: Benjamin Logan Schools; Community Markets; Green Hills Community; Logan County Engineer’s Office; McDonald’s; and West Liberty-Salem Schools.
Good Neighbor Awards given to select entities that participate with the United Way but to not quality for a Campaign Award include: American Solutions for Business; Bellefontaine Examiner; Civista Bank; Humble Construction; Lewis & Dorothy Tamplin Trust; Logan Acres; Logan County Health District; Logan County Sheriff’s Office; Midwest Regional ESC; P. Allan Properties; Quest Federal Credit Union; Riverside Schools; Robinson Investments; RV Wholesalers; Shine FM; and Walmart.
Since 1955, United Way of Logan County has raised more than $24 million to support the specific social service needs of the Logan County community.
And 91 cents of every dollar given goes to programming with 9 percent going to fundraising and administrative costs, the press release states,
“Logan County remains the smallest community in Ohio to achieve a $1 million United Way campaign,” the press release states.
With the money, United Way fights for the education, health and financial stability of people in Logan County.
It does so by facilitating successful agency partnerships which enable a safe, healthy and caring community. United way collaborates with businesses, non-profits, government and civic organizations ot help meet the social service needs of the community.
For information visit uwlogan.org or call 592-2886.