Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The goal for United Way is to raise $1.1 million by Oct. 1, according to campaign chairman and Zimmer president Ray Elliot.
United Way held its kickoff campaign Friday to hear reports from the pacesetter companies and get the companies worked up for the fund-raiser.
The campaign is held in Kosciusko County every year, according to United Way communications director Alejo Torres. There are 1,400 United Ways across the United States, said Elliot, and 42 men and women have led the annual campaign in Kosciusko County.
United Way supports 26 service agencies with the money they raise so the agencies don't have to do it themselves, said Torres.
The theme for the kickoff this year was a pep session. The Grace College Lancers started off the campaign with a warmup to set a peppy mood. Elliot introduced the Color Guard of the Boy Scouts, sponsored by Syracuse Rotary Club, to start the national anthem, and then asked for a few words from Grace College president Dr. Ronald Manahan.
The pacesetter companies this year are Combined Community Services, DePuy, National City Bank, Paragon Medical and Spartech. Representatives from each pacesetter company made a presentation to inform the other fund-raiser companies of their progress and what they did to promote fund-raising among their employees.
Elliot said DePuy set the standard for United Way with campaigning.
"Tough, tough competition," he said.
DePuy set a goal of $80,000 and increased employee participation in campaigning for donations. They met their goal.
Laurie Spiegal of DePuy said participation was increased by dividing the company into competitive teams and offering prizes for the most donations.
"It's amazing how public humiliation - like wearing a DePuy shirt - will get the masses rolling," Spiegal joked.
National City Bank set a goal of $10,000. It had 70 percent of employees participate and 100 percent participation from those employees, according to representative Sherry Wurz.
According to Paragon Medical representative Toby Buck, to get employees motivated to participate, Paragon held a garage sale and a company carnival. Buck said Paragon received an overwhelming response to the carnival.
Spartech representative Bruce Harrison said Spartech raised more than $21,000 in donations. He also displayed a quilt. The quilt is a visual representation of what the service agencies that benefit from United Way do, said Harrison. Each agency's logo is a square on the quilt.
Elliot announced as of Sept.1 the companies raised $300,000.
The next event on the agenda for the kickoff campaign was a free-throw contest featuring the representatives of the pacesetter companies and refereed by Dale Beck of Zimmer. They were rooted on by three United Way cheerleaders: Kathy Teghtmeyer of Lake City Bank, Ruth Voreis of R.R. Donnelley & Sons and Clare Baumgardt of Farmers State Bank.
The players were: Barry Sisson of DePuy, Jim Coons of CCS, Buck of Paragon, Harrison of Spartech, Sherry Wurz of National City, and three audience participants, Cindi Knepper, Bill Tidmore and Sandy Harrel.
Harrison won the free throw contest by making a basket blindfolded and received a dinner for two at the Boathouse Restaurant.
Elliot said he is pleased with all progress and effort of the companies. So far 27 percent of the $1.1 million goal has been reached.
"When there's no way there's United Way," he said.
