2015 Best in Class Award, Commerce Bank. Michael Stephan (HOIUW) and James Weekley (Commerce Bank)
The Heart of Illinois United Way celebrated the results of its 2015 Campaign on Thursday, February 4. Campaign Chairs, Tana and Kent Utley announced a grand total of $11,631,648, representing an approximate 2 percent increase over 2014.
Each year, more than 300 local companies and organizations participate in the annual campaign. In 2015, a $265,000 Challenge Grant, sponsored by Caterpillar Inc., CEFCU and UnityPoint Health-Peoria, matched new or increased contributions expanding the Heart of Illinois United Way’s base of support. For this past campaign, there were 12 new corporate gifts and 18 new employee campaigns; 26 organizations increased their contributions to the United Way by 10 percent or more.
“Of the largest 100 United Ways across the country, the Heart of Illinois United Way is the fastest growing in the last 10 years. Since 2004, our annual campaign has increased 82 percent compared to other United Ways across the country that realized an average 2 percent decrease over the same period of time. Our growth is a result of the hard work and effort put forth by all of our volunteers, as well as the unwavering support of so many donors in our community who know that investing in our mission provides the best return on their charitable contribution,” Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois United Way President, said.
In 2012, the Heart of Illinois United Way established two new campaign awards, the Best in Class Award and Campaign Achievement Award, to recognize outstanding workplace campaigns.
The Best in Class Award is based on employee participation in the workplace campaign, per capita giving and overall percent increase in contributions. This award recognizes a local organization who continuously demonstrates campaign excellence from year to year. The 2015 Best in Class Award winner is Commerce Bank.
The Campaign Achievement Award recognizes a campaign that had the largest percentage increase in employee participation from 2014 to 2015. This year’s Campaign Achievement Award winner is Federal Companies.
L-R, From Federal Companies -Kevin McLaren, Mark Bugaieski, and Bill Cirone; Michael Stephan, HOI United Way; and Rick Dokey, Jeff Bogdan, Bruce Resler, and Heather Nelson from Federal Companies.
A few highlights from the 2015 Campaign include:
- Advanced Medical Transport, 10 percent increase
- Archer Daniels Midland, 48 percent increase
- Farnsworth Group, 27 percent increase
- Hanson Professional Services, 30 percent increase
- Illinois Mutual, 11 percent increase
- Lincoln Office, 11 percent increase
- Morgan Stanley, 33 percent increase
- OSF Healthcare System, 15 percent increase
- Peoria Disposal Company, 34 percent increase
- Peoria Journal Star, 13 percent increase
- RLI, 17 percent increase
- RSM, 10 percent increase
- Vonachen Services, 17 percent increase
The Heart of Illinois United Way changes lives and improves our community by mobilizing people and resources to positively impact the areas of education, income and health for the
people of central Illinois. The demand for United Way funded programs continues to increase…
- Over the last three years, Heart of Illinois United Way partner agencies have lost more than $15 million in state and federal funding.
- With the current state budget crisis, agencies in central Illinois have cut programs mostly impacting children, adults seeking education and victims of violence. It is critical that the Heart of Illinois United Way raise the maximum amount of dollars to support these vital health and human care programs.
- Heart of Illinois United Way funding is a reliable and steady source of income for our partner agencies.
- More than 43 percent of area families with single mothers and children under 18 live in poverty.
- In partnership with Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois, our Heart of Illinois 2-1-1 service provides comprehensive information and referral for people in need. Seventy-five percent of callers request assistance in meeting basic needs (food, shelter, and clothing).
The 2016 Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign will be chaired by Tom Jenkins and Katie McCord Jenkins (Illinois Mutual).
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