United Way of Washington County closed the 2014-2015 annual campaign with a celebration at Cortland Mansion on June 3, 2015. Sponsored by Michael G. Callas Charitable Trust, Power Marketing and Coldwell Banker Innovations, the event was the perfect opportunity to recognize organizations/businesses and individuals who actively participated in raising $1,124,489 through a variety of campaign efforts. More than 80 people attended the event to celebrate the many businesses, large and small, and individuals and teams who helped coordinate the campaign effort.
Co- chairmen, Brian Flook and Clarence Horst, as directors of the United Way board know the importance of the annual campaign in making grants possible through the community impact process. “Our campaign has been in good hands for two years running with Brian and Clarence as the co-chairmen,” said Tim Peters, Board of Directors chairman. “With an understanding of the county and desire to change situations that will improve quality of life, they have seen their efforts positively affect more than 20,000 people who are directly impacted by the results of the annual fundraising.”
The highest campaign award, the Michael G. Callas Campaign Excellence Award, which is named as a tribute to memorialize United Way advocate and community leader, Michael Callas, was awarded to Jamison Door Company, Inc., company CEO John Williams and Karen Webber, campaign coordinator. Jamison Door has been participating with United Way for many years. When the company invited United Way to give presentations to employees to explain how one person’s gift, when combined with others, benefits the community, total contributions increased. Support from the company continues to grow. Jamison Door implemented many campaign best practices and was recognized with the highest campaign award.
The highest individual award, the Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year award, was given to Allison Banzhoff, AC&T Co., Inc. campaign coordinator. Ms. Banzhoff inspired her workplace to have a Live United spirit. Together, with her CEO, Mark Fulton, a fun campaign kickoff was hosted to engage employees by learning more about the work of United Way. Although the company is located throughout the county, she was able to engage employees wherever they were working.
The Distinguished Achievement in WCPS Campaign, Maugansville Elementary School was this year’s recipient forcing E. Russell Hicks Middle School to pass on the traveling award after their win last year. Nonprofit organizations also participate in the United Way campaign by hosting campaigns in their workplace as well as participating in the speakers’ bureau. Top awards for nonprofits went to Hospice of Washington County who received the Community Partner Award for Outstanding Achievement. This award is for a nonprofit that is not currently receiving community impact grant funding. Hospice currently receives the most funding through designations. Reach of Washington County received the Impact Partner Award for Outstanding Achievement. Reach has been a strong partner over the past few years and this year doubled the amount raised with their campaign.
Other awards were given for outstanding achievement, which includes participation levels as well as revenue and using campaign best practices. The campaign’s top ten for monies raised were announced: Citi, Volvo Group Trucks, Washington County Government, Meritus Medical Center, Susquehanna Bank, Washington County Public Schools, DOT Foods, Inc., First Energy, A Potomac Edison Company, UPS, and Jamison Door Company, Inc.
The event wrapped up with Mr. Peters announcement that Michael S. Johnston, president of MS Johnston will serve as the 2015-2016 campaign chairman. Johnston just completed his first year of a three year term on the United Way Board of Directors. He asked all in attendance to find ways to increase their engagement with the campaign and United Way. “United Way has been doing a tremendous job of funding programs that will have the biggest impact on our community,” Johnston said. “What I learned (during his first year on the Board) is we weren’t able to fund many necessary programs to make our community better.” He then asked everyone to “help spread the word and increase the dollars raised so we can get more of these critical programs funded.”
The mission of United Way is: “Through strategic leadership and investments, United Way of Washington County will impact community improvement and inspire collaborations to address critical needs in education, income and health.”
United Way of Washington County is located at 33 West Franklin Street, Suite 203 in Hagerstown, MD. For more information or to make a donation please call 301-739-8200 or visit our website at www.unitedwaywashcounty.org.