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United Way Looking for Heroic Effort in Home Stretch
As Greater Ottawa County United
Way’s 2011-12 community campaign heads into the home stretch, campaign
officials are shifting their efforts into high gear.
United Way tallied just over $1.9 million in pledges and donations as of February 16, which puts the campaign at 83 percent of its $2.3-million goal—and the red checkmarks are going up on the 80 percent boxes on the campaign thermometer signs located throughout the county.
“With just over a month left in this campaign, we’re hoping that Ottawa County will continue this trend of generosity and help us to go the distance,” said Scott Remenschneider, Vice President of Huntington Bank in Holland and 2011-12 community campaign chair. Remenschneider added that donations from workplace campaigns are trending up 6 percent over last year.
“We knew at the start of this campaign that $2.3 million was an ambitious goal, but we also knew that the people of Ottawa County would respond generously if they knew what a difference it could make. Because our citizens support the annual campaign, we as a community are improving the health, education, and financial stability of tens of thousands of our neighbors. If everyone gives a little, we can do a lot,” said Remenschneider.
[In the photo above, United Way Community Investment Volunteers serving on an Emergency Assistance/Basic Human Needs Panel are shown during a panel visit to Feeding America on February 14. More than 70 citizens have volunteered for the 2012 Community Investment Process in Ottawa County. At right, Panel Leader Shawn McPherson asks a question. To McPherson's right are panel members Janice Forrest and Dan Becksvoort.]
“Everyday Hero” in Full Swing
In January, United Way launched a new “Everyday Hero” initiative to “raise” 2,000 new donors of $50 each. United Way President Patrick Moran explained that an everyday hero is someone who gives or pledges $1 a week to United Way’s campaign. The pledge can be fulfilled anytime in 2012, but the pledge must be received before March 16 to be counted toward the 2011-12 campaign goal. This “campaign within a campaign” is being promoted through traditional and online marketing, social media, and special events; and to date more than 100 first-time donors have “joined the movement” as everyday heroes, said Moran. But many more are needed.
“If we are to make our campaign goal, we need 2,000 people to become everyday heroes,” he said, and added, “We’ve made it very simple—all you have to do is visit ottawaunitedway.org/hero, check a box, give us an email address where you can receive an electronic invoice, and you’ve done your part to advance the common good in Ottawa County.”
Pledges or donations may also be made by calling (616) 396-7811 or by mail to Greater Ottawa County United Way, P.O. Box 1349, Holland, MI 49422.
Everyday Hero “wrap up” events are being planned throughout Ottawa County in March. Odd Side Ales in downtown Grand Haven will host an event on Saturday, March 10. Patrons who complete an Everyday Hero pledge form will receive a 20% discount on their tab from open until close. Other events are in the works with Seven Steps up in Spring Lake and New Holland Brewery in downtown Holland.
Remenschneider saluted the business community for its support of the campaign. “Our corporate partners have gone all out to help, and now local restaurants, our media partners, and organizations such as Rotary Clubs and Chambers of Commerce are helping us to get the word out to as many people as possible. It’s a great community-wide effort,” he said.
For more information on United Way and the opportunities it provides for everyone in the community to give, advocate, and volunteer, visit www.ottawaunitedway.org.
LIVE UNITED News Winter 2012
Click to read the latest LIVE UNITED News from Greater Ottawa County United Way.
Everyday Heroes Needed NOW
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. In Ottawa County, we also know that … when the going gets tough, the tough give generously.
That’s what we are hoping happens now. Because it’s crunch time … for the campaign, and for our community. Last fall we set a very ambitious goal of $2.3 million for this year’s campaign. That’s $400,000 more than last year’s goal, and almost 12 percent more than the $2,031,496 we raised last year. We set this big goal because …
We needed to. Because the effective, local programs that rely on the campaign to meet the community’s needs for health, education, financial stability and emergency assistance need our help now. Right here, where so many are so blessed, others remain hungry, homeless, underemployed. But not hopeless.
Because there are so many of us—about 8,000—who give generously to Greater Ottawa County United Way’s annual community campaign. Most work in the 200 local companies that hold workplace campaigns. And this year, on average, giving is up more than 7 percent! Even with this increased generosity, however, we will fall $100,000 short of our goal when the campaign ends … if we do nothing more.
So we are reaching out to the 100,000 working adults in Ottawa County whohave not yet participated in the campaign. We’re guessing that, for most, it’s because they haven’t been asked. So we are asking now. Between now and March 16, we are asking everyone in Ottawa County who has not already given to the 2011-12 community campaign to become an EVERYDAY HERO and pledge just $1 per week in 2012. The pledge can be fulfilled any time before the end of the year, in any number of payments, via check or credit card. But we need our everyday heroes to stand up and be counted NOW. To join the movement. To say yes to giving $1 per week so that others may eat, have a roof over their heads, get necessary medical care, be ready for school, make successful school progress, get a good job, achieve their potential … and all of the other important community goals we’ve set together.
We believe that, when people realize they have SUPERPOWERS, they will say YES. Here are just three examples of what one dollar a week can do in our community:
· Feed 178 meals to a family in need
· Provide $250 of prescription medicine to a low-income senior
· Shelter a homeless family for a month in transitional housing
If that’s not a superpower, we don’t know what is! There is no better bargain anywhere than the collective strength of community we achieve when we LIVE UNITED.
If you are one of the 8,000 who’ve already given, thank you. If you are one of the 100,000 who haven’t, please be an Everyday Hero. Visit www.ottawaunitedway.org/hero and pledge $1 per week, payable any time in 2012.
Then, tell your friends how they can have superpowers, too. Go a little crazy on behalf of our community! Tweet it. Change your Linked In and Facebook status to “Everyday Hero” and post the hero logo and QR code above as your profile photo. Not forever. Just until, together, we make our goal.
Please be one of the 2000 who say Yes! now to help Ottawa County go the distance and make the difference … with just one dollar a week. Tens of thousands of our neighbors in need in Ottawa County say thank you.
Sara Lee Foundation Supports Campaign
Sara Lee Zeeland Plant Manager Ross Myers (right) presents a Sara Lee Foundation grant in the amount of $2,070 to Greater Ottawa County United Way Director of Development Louann Werksma for the 2011-12 community campaign. The grant represents a 40 percent match of employee contributions raised during Sara Lee's United Way campaign, held October-November 2011 at the Sara Lee Foods plant, 8300 96th Avenue, in Zeeland. Sara Lee employees give, advocate and volunteer year round to help create the building blocks of a better life for all in Ottawa County.
Community Campaign Reaches 60% of Goal
Jill Maitzen, Manager of Fifth Third's Ferrysburg branch, and Craig Bessenger, Ferrysburg City Manager, place the 60% check mark on the campaign thermometer sign on the Fifth Third Bank lawn in Ferrysburg.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Ottawa County, thanks to the community’s generous response to Greater Ottawa County United Way’s 2011-12 community campaign. More than $1.4 million in pledges and donations have been tallied to date, putting the campaign at just over 60 percent of its $2.3-million goal.
Campaign officials note that the campaign is coming in approximately 7 percent ahead of last year, but not quite the 11 percent increase needed to achieve this year’s ambitious goal.
“Our campaign companies and loyal individual donors are right there with us, working hard to help us make this goal that is so important for our community,” said Campaign Chair Scott Remenschneider, Vice President of Huntington Bank. “What we need is for new people who’ve never participated before to step up and join the movement. Right now in Ottawa County, we have about 10,000 people participating—in a county with a population of 250,000. If just 2,000 more people will pledge as little as $1 a week in 2012, we can make this goal and, more importantly, continue the progress we’re making in health, education, and financial stability for everyone in Ottawa County.”
Remenschneider noted that residents who are not able to give through their workplace can give online at www.ottawaunitedway.org or mail a donation to United Way at PO Box 1349, Holland, MI 49422. Pledges can be accepted by phone or mail and billed quarterly in 2012, or donors can fulfill pledges via debit, credit or checking accounts at intervals they choose. Call 616 396-7811 for a pledge form or download one at http://www.ottawaunitedway.org/images/stories/campaign_tools/Pledge%20form.pdf.
In addition, Michigan state income tax filers can “check off” a portion of their state tax refund as a donation to United Way, and it will go to the United Way office associated with their home zip code. In 2011, Greater Ottawa County United Way received more than $5,000 from Michigan tax filers through this simple program.
“A gift to United Way is a sound investment in our community,” said United Way President Patrick Moran. “This year, for every dollar given to Greater Ottawa County United Way, the community is receiving a benefit of $2.36 in direct support to effective, local programs, leveraged grants, and volunteerism,” he explained.
In January, Greater Ottawa County United Way’s annual Community Investment Process will begin. Volunteers from throughout Ottawa County will evaluate all programs requesting United Way support, and new volunteers are welcome. All Community Investment volunteers must attend a training session, with two dates and times available: Monday, January 23 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. or Tuesday, January 24 from 12:-1:30 p.m. Both sessions take place in the Main Conference Room of the Ottawa County Administration Complex, 12220 Fillmore St. in West Olive. For more information about becoming a Community Investment Volunteer, and application materials, visit www.ottawaunitedway.org or call Liz DeLaLuz, Director of Community Impact (616) 396-7811. The deadline for volunteering is January 17.
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