MANSFIELD – The annual awards dinner for United Way of Richland County on Thursday evening had much to celebrate.
The dinner is held each year to recognize campaign achievements and honor volunteer leadership, recognizing United Way volunteers, contributors, workplace partners and partner agency programs dedicated to addressing the needs of those in Richland County.
United Way set a lofty campaign goal in September 2017 of $1.4 million. On Thursday, the organization announced the campaign had raised $1,467,216, achieving 105 percent of their goal.
“This is a victory for a community, not for an organization,” said Dan Varn, executive director of United Way. “Our success we share today show the power of uniting behind a common cause. This is the impact we have together.”
Co-chairs of the 2017 United Way campaign were Willie Thompson, membership development coordinator or IBEW Local 688, and Jean Halpin, president of OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby Hospitals. This was Halpin’s second consecutive year as chair.
“It’s really eye-opening to see all the support from our community,” Thompson said. “It’s something I’m proud to say I was part of this year.”
The fundraising kicked off in September 2017 with nine “pacesetter” agencies including Baker’s Collision, Gorman-Rupp, J&B Acoustical, Mechanics Bank, Milliron Industries, OhioHealth, Richland Bank, and Therm-O-Disc already raising $322,240 towards the goal.
Throughout the year United Way hosted various fundraising events to raise a total of $140,915 towards the final goal. The events included the AFL/CIO Golf Outing, Power of the Purse, the Freedom Days car show, two Celebrity Bartender events, and “Dash to the Goal” that included a new game of Richland-opoly.
One special award was recognized on Thursday – the passing of “Gus the Gopher” to the school district who saw the largest increase in United Way giving over the previous year. Gus will be dressed in Mansfield City Schools colors for the next year after the district saw a $1,133 increase in giving.
Sally Gesouras and Becky Toomey, Pillar co-chairs, recognized the 211 individual Pillar Donors that gave $308,109, a total of 21 percent of the total contributions over the year.
United Way also recognized the top 25 companies who supported the organization, combining for a total $787,433. The top five companies alone – CenturyLink, Richland Bank, Mechanics Bank, Gorman Rupp and Therm-O-Disc – raised a combined $319,348, or 22 percent of the entire campaign. Therm-O-Disc claimed the top spot once again, raising $84,029 in support of United Way.
The dinner also recognized Mary Bolin as the outgoing president of United Way’s Board of Directors, clearing the way for incoming president Debbi Adams.
“I’m so proud to be part of such a generous community,” Adams said.
Other outgoing board members included Diane Brown, Mariann Craig, Kent Hall, Jeanette Kvochick, Liz Prather, and Ryan Smith.
