When SYM Financial decided to be a 2004 United Way pacesetter, they aimed high.

SYM is taking a leadership role in the 2004 United Way campaign.

SYM Financial is an Independent Financial Advisory firm and has offices in Indianapolis, South Bend, and Warsaw. They specialize in wealth management, portfolio management and 401(k) advisory services.

SYM's theme for their employee campaign was "Office Olympics." The SYM Office Olympics was a two-week-long occasion.

Five employee teams competed in either a physical or a mental challenge every day. Physical events including "Supervisor Skeet Shooting" (tossing an English muffin at a supervisor in a fast-moving office chair) and "Office Cubicle Volleyball" (where employee teams had to play with a beach ball over office cubicles and score points) involved all SYM employees and created camaraderie and competition between colleagues.

Mental events included predicting the level of the S&P 500 over the course of a week for the new Google stock.

Money raised goes to the United Way, which supports 48 programs in the community.

Key leader Faye Jagger said, "Being a Pacesetter and raising funds for United Way was a source for lots of unifying laughter and it has jelled us together as a true family. This was a fun way to benefit our organization and the community at the same time!"

SYM CEO Jerry Yeager reported, "I am absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by what we achieved together as a team! It is a pleasure to work with such quality and giving people! I am looking forward to celebrating this great accomplishment with everyone!"

Yeager also said there is a company-wide award for smashing their company's goal - to be announced. The SYM Pacesetter team (Faye Jagger, Christi Price and Jay Dunnuck) was able to give a hint on what that will be: CEO Yeager will "take a flying leap" out of a plane for SYM and United Way.

Closing ceremonies were held at SYM Thursday night. As in the real Olympics, team strength was honored. The final team event of the evening was "Office Chair Synchronized Swimming."

The evening closed by dunking the "SYM Olympics Torch" in the dunk tank.

Winning teams earned rewards such as extra vacation days and bragging rights for events. A top prize winner was drawn and won dinner anywhere in the country, flying on the SYM company jet. Other prizes were two Colts tickets, a two-night stay at Aberdeen's, a fly over Warsaw in the company jet and a financial blueprint package worth $850.

SYM Financial raised more than $6,000 for the United Way, from their employees' donations. Additional money-raising events of the evening were a dunk tank (tank filled by the Warsaw Fire Department), a moon walk (from Warsaw Party Rentals) and SYM-provided pizza (from Papa John's). [[In-content Ad]]