United Way of Kosciusko County held its annual meeting Tuesday in Warsaw. Last year, United Way raised $2,043,412. Two awards were also given and the new campaign chairman was announced. Pictured, from left, are Nora Macon, the new campaign chairman, of Maple Leaf Farms, Milford; Randy Polston, Key Leader of the Year; and Everett Nifong, Volunteer of the Year. (Photo by Phoebe Muthart)

On Tuesday, guests attended the United Way of Kosciusko County Community Celebration luncheon. United Way leadership, area participants and program representatives that are supported by the local United Way met to celebrate the outstanding achievements both in community impact and the most recent campaign.  Everyone enjoyed a lunch provided by Penguin Point.

There was some annual United Way business to be taken care of at this meeting.  Board member leaving after serving one term was Dennis Duncan, Jefferson Elementary; and two terms were: Steve Carlson, Grace College and Seminary; Aaron Rovenstine, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, and Gary Tenney, CTB.

Four board members were elected to serve a second term: Don Bergen, retired RR Donnelley; Siobhan Davenport, Kosciusko Community Hospital; Joel Harstine, Maple Leaf Farms; and Tim Meyer, retired Medtronic.

New members elected to the United Way Board were: Jeri Burkhart, Indiana Tech; Jason Hill, Miller’s Health System; David Hoffert, Warsaw Community Schools; Becky Plummer, Staffmark; Cindy Sisson, Grace College and Seminary; and Amanda Tom, Meridian Title Corp.

The 2012 Campaign Chairman, Everett Nifong of Lake City Bank, was recognized along with his cabinet, which included:

• Campaign Unit Chairs: Barb Goslee, Biomet – Industry; Shelly Fraley, Lake City Bank – Commerce; Josh Gordon, Tower Bank – Professional; Bill Katip, Grace College & Seminary  – Community.
• Campaign Division Chairs: Chelsea Childers, Depuy; Laura Leggero, Akzo Nobel; Karen Moon, Goshert Insurance Agency; Jennifer Orr, Lake City Bank; Greg Moeller, Teachers Credit Union; Ryan Jessen, 1st Source Bank; Lora Beeson, Kosciusko Community Hospital; Eric Merley, Hall & Marose Insurance; Randy Polston, Grace College & Seminary; Barry Andrew, Kosciusko County; Tammy Keirn, Miner & Lemon.

This team of volunteers managed the annual campaign. Their hard work and dedication to United Way and our community is much appreciated.

Area businesses were recognized for their outstanding contributions to United Way. ‘Honorable Mention’ was given to companies which had a significant increase toward their employee challenge: Bart’s Water Sports, Biomet, Crossroads Bank, Danco Anodizing, Farmers State Bank, Grossnickle Eye Center, Medtronic, Teachers Credit Union, TSA Communications and Zimmer.

There were a number of companies which ran internal employee campaigns and met their challenge for the year – they were honored with an ‘Employee Advancement Award’: 1st Source Bank, Akzo Nobel, KGP Logistics, Orange Door Dental Group, Orthopediatrics and town of Winona Lake.

The final business recognition award is given to companies that are running campaigns that meet or exceed their full potential. The potential of an employee campaign is figured based upon the number of employees and past giving from each particular company. This year the ‘Award of Excellence’ was presented to the employees of Lake City Bank, Mid-City Supply, SYM Financial Advisors, Tower Bank and the United Way of Kosciusko County.

Key Leaders are volunteers who organize the internal campaigns at each individual company. This hard working group of people were recognized and thanked for their efforts.

Each year one person is selected for the honor of ‘Key Leader of the Year,’ which went to Randy Polston of Grace College and Seminary. Randy is passionate and excited about supporting the United Way. In the 2012 Campaign, he led Grace College to more than an 85 percent increase in their employee contributions.

The annual Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Everett Nifong of Lake City Bank for his leadership. Everett has been involved with United Way for several years. He currently serves on the finance committee and is on the board of directors. He most recently served as the 2012 Campaign chairperson.

Annually, United Way supports the community through donations to local programs and overall community initiatives. The United Way of Kosciusko County has set three impact goals: education, income and health.

The education focus is to increase the high school graduation rate by using strategies involving school readiness, which will ensure that children entering Kindergarten have met the appropriate developmental milestones; and early academic achievement ensuring that students’ reading comprehension skills are at the appropriate level by grade three.

The income focus is to increase the economic self-sufficiency of Kosciusko County residents as measured by an increase in the percentage above the poverty level and a reduction in housing cost burden achieved by strategies of employability, family management and family stabilization.

Finally, the health focus is to improve the health of Kosciusko County residents as measured by reductions in premature death (mortality rate) and reductions in self-reported poor health days (morbidity rate) with the following strategies of nutrition, fitness, children’s oral health, destructive behavior reduction and health accessibility.

The campaign is the largest tool the organization has to gather resources to help move forward with creating positive change.

In 2012, individuals, corporate contributors and employee campaigns raised $2,043,412 for the United Way of Kosciusko County.

For more information about United Way of Kosciusko County please visit
www.unitedwaykosciusko.org.