Cedar Valley United Way Tops $3 Million in Giving for Second Year

WATERLOO, IA –Cedar Valley United Way topped $3 million in giving for the second year in a row, raising $3,002,291 during the 2010 campaign. The announcement was made during the Breakfast of Champions at the McLeod Center Thursday morning.

University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen and his wife, Pat, served as co-chairs for the 2010 campaign.

“We were very fortunate to have great advocates in Ben and Pat, who were passionate about improving the Cedar Valley,” said Sheila Baird, Cedar Valley United Way president. “They, along with our Campaign Cabinet, shared our mission with the community and showed the community that each gift matters, no matter the size.”

The 2010 campaign saw a six percent increase in the amount of total gifts individual and employee donors gave to the campaign, totaling $2,019,431. The remaining contributions to the campaign came through corporate gifts, in-kind donations and special event proceeds.

“Each individual gift is from a donor who wants to have the Cedar Valley be the best it can be,” said Baird. “Every person who donates wants to see the Cedar Valley be successful and guarantee that no one is left behind.”

Over $753,000 of the campaign total was given in Leadership Gifts, individual and employee contributions totaling $1,000 or more. There were over a 16% increase in the number of Leadership Givers. The number of Emerging Leader gifts, contributions from donors 40 years old and younger who give $500 or more, increased to 219.

Individuals and companies recognized during the Breakfast of Champions included:

• Black Hawk Engineering
• Bossard Industrial Products
• Cedar Falls Utilities
• Distek Integration Inc.
• John Deere Waterloo Operations
• The Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo
• Tyson Fresh Meats
• Viking Pump
• The Cedar Valley Chase Committee: Mike Barrett, Maureen Burum, Megan Horn, Kari Jansen, Kristin Kline, Jennifer Miller, Sarah Pauls and Alan Simmer
• Employee Campaign Managers: Diane Chandler and Megan Zuniga, Martin Bros. Distributing
• Women’s Philanthropy Connection Chairs: Dee Vandeventer, ME&V, and Sharon Juon, Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments
• Loaned Executives: Stephanie Regenold, Veridian Credit Union; Megan Grandors, Keri Kulish and Amberai Pancratz, University of Northern Iowa

Twenty-one businesses were also recognized for having 100 percent participation in the 2010 campaign. Those organizations are:

• Cedar Valley United Way
• Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa
• Community National Bank
• Family & Children’s Council of Black Hawk County
• First National Bank of Cedar Falls
• Greater Cedar Valley Alliance
• Hawkeye Chapter of the American Red Cross
• Heaton Adams & Company P.C.
• Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments
• Lamar Advertising
• ME&V
• Nelson Properties/Midtown Development
• Northland Products Company
• Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
• PDCM Insurance
• Peters Construction Corporation
• Waterloo Mayor’s Office
• Waterloo Department of Human Resources
• Waterloo Department of Planning & Zoning
• Wells Fargo Advisors
• Winnebago Council, Boy Scouts of America

The annual campaign kicked off in September and continued through January. Now the work begins for the volunteers who take part in Community Impact Teams that review grant applications to make recommendations on how the money can most effectively be distributed.

For the 2011-12 funding year, 103 local programs that work to support education, income and health in the Cedar Valley submitted grant applications totaling $3,312,154. Programs that received funding in the past have included after-school and child care programs, disaster services, elderly transportation, community meals and help for victims of domestic violence. Cedar Valley United Way also funds 2-1-1 Information and Referral services.

For more information about Cedar Valley United Way or to learn how you can contribute, visit www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org.

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