Upcoming Events
Lead the Valley Luncheon
Wednesday, May 28
Cedar Falls Holiday Inn
Noon to 1 p.m
Golf Classic
Friday, June 20
South Hills Golf Course, Waterloo
1 p.m. shotgun start
Cedar Valley United Way Appoints Officers and Board Members
WATERLOO, IA—The Cedar Valley United Way Board of Directors elected new officers at its annual meeting. Officers for 2008 are Kenneth Nelson, Randall & Nelson PLC, chairman of the board; Kane Fairman, UPS, vice-chairman; Steve Abbott, Qwest Communications, Black Hawk Union Council, secretary; and Kathy Lee, Wells Fargo, treasurer.
Board members elected to new terms include: Steve Abbott, Qwest Communications, Black Hawk Union Council; David Braton, The Courier; Steve Dust, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance; Kane Fairman, UPS; Michael Fleming, UNI, representing the Community Impact Team Helping Children & Youth Succeed; Rick Gorman, John Deere Waterloo Operations, UAW Local 838; Vicki Grimes, UNI, representing the Community Impact Team Supporting Vulnerable Populations; Kim Hardy, the isle® casino & hotel at waterloo; John Huff, KWWL Television; Mayor Tim Hurley, City of Waterloo; Marianna Karam, John Deere Waterloo Operaions; Kathy McCoy; Steve Sesterhenn, GMAC Mortgage; Craig White; Dee Vandeventer, ME&V; and Kim Young-Kent, Tri-County Head Start, representing the Community Impact Team Promoting Self-Sufficiency and Poverty Reduction.
For more information about the Cedar Valley United Way, visit www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org.
###
Cedar Valley United Way Sees 8.5 Percent Increase In Giving
WATERLOO, IA – Cedar Valley United Way announced an 8.5 percent increase in giving during the 2007 campaign, raising $2,775,980.63. The announcement was made during the Breakfast of Champions at the Elks Lodge Thursday morning.
“It’s great for United Way and it’s great for the Cedar Valley,” said Kathy Lee, community bank president at Wells Fargo Bank and 2007 campaign chair. “We set out to top last year’s record campaign and we did.”
Support from the community also rose. The 2007 campaign saw a 19 percent increase in the number of businesses and corporations participating and an increase of 31 percent in the number of people contributing.
“It takes everyone working together to see an increase of this size,” said Lee. “The community has been behind us, building momentum throughout the campaign.”
John Deere Waterloo Operations employees and the John Deere Foundation had a record campaign, contributing just over $1 million to Cedar Valley United Way. The isle® casino & hotel at waterloo led the first-time campaigns, contributing nearly $50,000 in their first year of business.
Companies and individuals recognized during the Breakfast of Champion included:
- Employee Campaign Managers of the Year – DJ Corson, Hawkeye Community College; Kathy Davis and Andrea Wubbena, Kirk Gross Company; Craig Penn, Target Distribution Center; and Kim Huff, USBank.
- Newcomer Award – the isle® casino & hotel at waterloo.
- Continuing Success Award – Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare System and MidAmerican Energy Co.
- New Spirit Award – Advanced Systems, Inc., Oakridge Realty, Peters Construction Corporation, Universal Industries.
- Community Partners Award – UPS, Veridian Credit Union.
- Most Innovative Way to Reach Employees – The CBE Group, Inc.
- Triple Double Award – The Principal Financial Group.
- Outstanding Philanthropic Achievement Award – John Deere Waterloo Operations employees and the John Deere Foundation.
Sixteen businesses were also recognized for having 100 percent participation in the 2007 campaign. Those organizations are:
- A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
- Cedar Valley United Way
- Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa
- Community Housing Initiative
- Community National Bank
- Family & Children’s Council
- First National Bank of Cedar Falls
- Heaton Adams & Company P.C.
- Iowa Legal Aid
- Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments
- Liberty Bank
- ME&V
- Northeast Iowa Food Bank
- Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
- PDCM Insurance Co.
- Regions Bank
- The Salvation Army
- Waterloo Service Co.
Over $600,000 of the campaign total was given in Leadership Gifts, contributions totaling $1,000 or more. Included in the Leadership Giving was the largest-ever single campaign contribution of $25,000.
“The increase will help fund programs that work toward advancing the common good here in the Cedar Valley,” said Sheila Baird, president of Cedar Valley United Way. “Every program funded has benefits that ripple out to our community as a whole. We all win when a child does well in school or when a family is financially stable.”
For the 2008-09 funding cycle, 105 grant applications have been received. Recipients will be announced in May. In 2007, Cedar Valley United Way provided funding to 90 programs throughout the Cedar Valley that focus on helping children and youth succeed, supporting the elderly and disabled, and poverty reduction.
For more information about Cedar Valley United Way or to learn how you can contribute, visit www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org.
###
Cedar Valley United Way Meets Membership Criteria
WATERLOO, IA—Sheila Baird, President, announced that the Cedar Valley United Way has successfully completed all of the United Way of America membership requirements satisfactorily and on time for 2007. The requirements include: Membership Requirements Certification, Membership Investment, and the Database 2 Survey of Total Resources Generated (a survey that captures the full extent of a community’s resource development efforts during the year).
“The membership standards must be certified annually in order for us to remain a member of the United Way system,” stated Baird. “It is important for us to maintain a high standard of accountability and this is part of the process to document that our operations are transparent and meet or exceed United Way membership criteria requirements.”
The board of Cedar Valley United Way reviewed and approved the Membership Requirements Certification at the May Board meeting. The certification mandates completion of 13 requirements for United Way of America membership along with verification of the status of 44 indicators that demonstrate a United Way embodies the intent of the membership requirements.
“It is critically important that all United Ways meet the highest standards and verify on paper that they have conformed to the requirements of membership in the United Way system,” stated Brian Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way of America. “We applaud and congratulate the Cedar Valley United Way for demonstrating their commitment by completing the recertification process.”
As an integral part of the community, the Cedar Valley United Way is specifically involved in helping children and youth succeed, promoting self-sufficiency and poverty reduction, and supporting vulnerable populations.
The Cedar Valley United Way is part of a system of 1,300 United Ways. Each local United Way must complete United Way of America’s requirements annually in order to retain its United Way of America membership.
For a complete list of the 90 programs that received funding or for more information about the Cedar Valley United Way and how you can contribute, visit www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org.
###