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2015 Annual Report LIVE UNITED
of Saginaw County
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Current United Way of Saginaw County Staff: Lawrence Sims, President/CEO Tracy Aldrich, Director of Finance & Administration Kelly Johnson, Director of Marketing & Communications Steven Lamb, Labor Liaison Melissa Durow, Campaign Coordinator Susan Sanford, Payment Specialist Joanie Covert, Continuum of Care Program Coordinator Kayla Petz, Administrative Assistant/ Volunteer Services Jeremy Reinert, HMIS Systems Administrator Lorisa Bellinger, Housing Resource Specialist Gerhardt Schuette, VITA Program Coordinator CEDAM AmeriCorps Member
Our Strategies: Empowering Passion Maximizing Impact Providing Hope Creating Opportunity Our Values: Community Driven Collaboration Continuous Improvement Mission Discipline Systemic Change
Our Mission: To increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another Our Vision: A safe, nurturing community where all families can thrive
2015 Campaign Cabinet: Linda Sims, Campaign Chair Kathy Stewart, Campaign Vice Chair Clint Bryant, Manufacturing A-L Julie Burdis, Construction Amy Ford, Financial Angela Hayes, Transportation George Heilbronn, Construction Jim House, Manufacturing M-Z Teresa Pruden, Education (PreK-12) Steve Schlicht, Manufacturing A-L Darryl Thomas, CPAs & Architects/Engineers
“Living United and giving back to the community are strong values shared within my family. Throughout my career and with my current position as Executive Director of Communications and External Affairs for SVSU, there is a strong tie with the values of the United Way and the University's commitment to community engagement." - Campaign Chair, Linda Sims,
2015 Board of Directors - Executive Committee: Board Chair
Treasurer
Nominations Chair
Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants
Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants
UAW Retiree - Local 467
Dave Youngstrom
Brian Dixon
First Vice Chair
2015 Campaign Chair
Spence Brothers
Saginaw Valley State University
Steve Schlicht David Kelly
Linda Sims
UAW Region 1D
Second Vice Chair
UWSC Liaison to SCF
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Covenant HealthCare
Chemical Bank
Herb Spence
Carrie Travis
Keith Wenzel
Immediate Past Board Chair
SCF Liaison to UWSC
Merrill Technologies Group Secretary
Community Volunteer Bylaws Chair
Frankenmuth Insurance
HealthPlus of Michigan
Ricardo Resio
Bryan Gilleland
Trish Luplow
Joseph Kiss
Terry Robinson
Hemlock Semiconductor Group
Angie Miller
CWA Local 4108
Bridget Hollingsworth
2015 Board of Directors - Members at Large: Rev. Hurley Coleman
Michelle Mitchell
Will Smith
Jim Cross
Jamie Nisidis
Melissa Spranger
World Outreach Campus Church Dow Corning Corporation Retiree
Jennie Culberson
UAW Local 699 Retiree
Lesley Foxx Sims
Consumers Energy
Braun Kendrick P.L.C.
Michigan State Police - Tri-City Post Chemical Bank
Eve Perry
Kathy Stewart
Steelworkers Local 9899
Saginaw Intermediate School District
Saginaw Housing Commission
Saginaw Intermediate School District
Teresa Pruden
Douglas Trombley
Martin Gembrowski
Gina Rendon-Wiederhold
James VanTiflin
Craig Goslin
Teresa Santana
Suzanne Greenberg
David Small
The Dow Chemical Company Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region (Agency Representative)
George Heilbronn
UAW Local 668/GM Powertrain Wanigas Credit Union
Saginaw Township Community Schools Community Volunteer
Marcia Yearwood FirstMerit Bank
IBEW Local 557
“My involvement in United Way has been an important part of my life. Throughout the years I’ve James Jesselaitis been fortunate to serve the organization in many Nexteer Automotive/UAW Local 699 capacities. As I complete my term as Board Chair, Elvis Machul I’d like to thank this community for rallying Garber Automotive Group together to support an organization that achieves Mike Major such amazing things. United Way isn’t about quick-fix solutions, it’s Saginaw Valley State University about empowering lives and I’m proud that the Community Impact Jim W. Miller Model is helping us do that even better. Thank you for allowing me Nexteer Automotive to lead this great organization and for your continued support of our community.” - Board Chair, Dave Youngstrom Carpenters Local 706
Thank you to our Community Partners
These powerful partners are working with United Way to create lasting change
The following organizations have offered support through Corporate Gifts, Special Events, Sponsorships and/or Employee Workplace Campaigns: 1st State Bank AAA Michigan Insurance Abbe Insurance Center, Inc. Ace-Saginaw Paving Company Allen Supply Company Allstate Insurance Company Amigo Mobility International, Inc. Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC Ascension Lutheran Church AT&T Auto-Owners Insurance AXA Advisors LLC B & P Process Equipment Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bay Area Association of Michigan Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Bernier Cast Metals, Inc. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network Boys & Girls Club of the Great Lakes Bay Region Braun Kendrick P.L.C. BRONNER'S CHRISTmas WONDERLAND CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region Caravan Facilities Management LLC Carrollton Public Schools Chemical Bank Child & Family Services Saginaw Citizens Financial Group, Inc. City of Saginaw Cole Veterinary Hospital Combined Federal Campaign Consumers Energy Corix Cork 'N' Ale Covenant HealthCare CRA Bankers Forum Davenport University Delta College Delta Door Sales, Inc. Diesel Truck Sales Dome Corporation of North America
Dow Corning Corporation Dow Corning Healthcare Industries Materials Site Draper Auto Group DTE Energy Duperon Corporation Enterprise Holdings, N.E.C. Family First Credit Union FedEx Fifth Third Bank First Area Credit Union First Ward Community Service FirstMerit Bank Foulds & Co., P.C. Frankenmuth Credit Union Frankenmuth Insurance Frankenmuth School District Freeland Community School District Future Insurance Agency Garber Management Group Gardey Financial Advisors, LLC Gardner, Provenzano, Thomas & Luplow, P.C. General Dynamics General Machine Service Inc. Generations Family Federal Credit Union Genesee Packaging, Inc. Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan GM Powertrain GM Retirees Goodrich Quality Theaters, Inc. - QUALITY 10 GDX Gordmans Store 121 Gordon Food Service Graham Construction Corp. Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau Great Lakes Loons Greater Saginaw-Bay Central Labor Council Habitat for Humanity Hanesbrands Inc.
HealthPlus of Michigan HealthSource Saginaw Hemlock Public School District Hemlock Semiconductor Group Hi Tech Optical Incorporated Hidden Harvest HRPB Company Hymmco, LLC IBEW Local 557 IBM Corporation Independent Bank Irish & Associates J.C. Penney Company, Inc. JET Graphics Johnson Controls Joseph M. Day Company King Communications KUKA Assembly & Test Corp. Lowe's Home Improvement MacDonald Broadcasting Company Macy's Marshall E. Campbell Company Martin Chevrolet Sales McDonald Auto Group Means Industries Inc. Meijer, Inc. Meijer #42 /Gratiot Rd. Meijer #43/Tittabawassee Rd. Meijer #213/Birch Run Mercantile Bank Merrill Community Schools Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Michigan Property Consultants LLC Michigan Sugar Company Mid Michigan Children's Museum MLive Media Group/The Saginaw News Morley Murray Painting Co. National Pattern Inc. Nationwide Insurance Foundation Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Neighborhood House Nexteer Automotive
Northern Sierra Corporation O'Reilly Auto Parts Panda Promotional Products Phase Liner of Michigan, Inc. PNC Bank Public Libraries of Saginaw Pumford Construction Inc. Qualified Staffing Services Quality Upholstery READ Association of Saginaw County Rehmann Remer Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Residential Appraisal Services Restoration Community Outreach Service Rohde Brothers Excavating Rose Pest Solutions Ryder Safelite Autoglass Saginaw Bay Underwriters Saginaw Charter Township Saginaw Club Saginaw Community Foundation Saginaw County Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority Saginaw County Youth Protection Council Saginaw Future Inc.
Saginaw Housing Commission Saginaw Intermediate School District Saginaw Public School District Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club Saginaw Township Community Schools Saginaw Valley State University Sanitary Mattress Company SC Johnson Security Credit Union Severance Tool Industries, Inc. Special Needs Vision Clinic Spence Brothers Sprint St. Charles Community Schools St. Mary's of Michigan - Ascension Health Standard Electric Company Standard Tile, Inc. Stan's Hardware, Inc. Star of the West Milling Company STARS State Employees Charitable Campaign Stevens Worldwide Van Lines SVRC Industries, Inc. Swan Valley School District T.J.Maxx Target #347 Team One Credit Union The Dow Chemical Company The Mayan Agency
The Wirt-Rivette Group Tire Centers, LLC Treib, Inc. Tri-City Acoustical Tri-Star Trust Bank UAW Local 699 UAW Sub Regional Office Underground Railroad United Financial Credit Union United Parcel Service Freight United Parcel Service of America United Steelworkers Union Local 12075 United Way of Saginaw County Van Herweg Electric, Inc. Walmart & Sam's Club Wanigas Credit Union Water and Woods Field Service Council, Boy Scouts of America Weiss Equipment Wells Fargo Wildfire Credit Union William A. Kibbe & Associates, Inc. Wilson Realty, Inc. WM. F. Nelson Electric WNEM TV 5 WTA Architects Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants YMCA of the USA
These generous grantors fund efforts that create an impact in our community: Alice E. Turner Memorial Trust Allen E. & Marie A. Nickless Memorial Foundation Arnold & Gertrude Boutell Memorial Fund Arthur H. Webster Jr. Endowment Fund Arthur Treanor Trust At-Risk Youth Fund AXA Foundation Benevity Community Impact Fund Carl Werth, Sr. & Ruth Werth Memorial Fund CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation Charles F. & Adeline L. Barth Charitable Foundation Consumers Energy Dow Corning Corporation Exelon Foundation Fifth Third Foundation Frank N. Andersen Foundation
Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation Horgan Trust Internal Revenue Service Junior League of Saginaw Valley Louis R. & Helen E. Schwartz Fund Michigan Nonprofit Association Nexteer Automotive Robert E. Stark & Martin H. Stark Foundation Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation Saginaw Community Foundation The Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation Tri-City Links, Incorporated Wickson-Link Memorial Foundation Wolohan Family Foundation YWCA Fund for Women & Children
Total Community Impact
2015
When you donate to United Way of Saginaw County, you are investing in the community where you live, work, learn and play. Each donation to United Way of Saginaw County is combined with several other donations and awarded to the affiliated programs within our 3 impact areas, helping achieve community-driven goals. If an individual chooses to designate their donation, United Way will forward it to the desired organization.
Community Investment Through Campagin
The Community Investment graph represents donations received in 2015 and which area they created an impact in: Health - 41%
Financial Stability - 11% Designations - 17% Education - 31%
Using our Collective Strength to Multiply our Impact and Maximize our Donors' Dollars
Affiliated Program Awards HKHF AmeriCorps
Health $832,188
We all win when community members can access a quality education; keep and grow more of what they earn; and have access to nutritious foods. Community members can use these resources to build a better future for themselves and contribute to a thriving community. Thanks to your support, United Way is proud to facilitate partnerships, administer grants and implement programs designed to create change in our community. Without your support of United Way, many of these resources would not be available to our community members. Best Practices Institute
Project Independence Emergency Food & Shelter Program
Education $413,784
Lexia
Youth Service Days
Imagination Library Affiliated Program Awards
Affiliated Program Awards
Financial Stability $5,305,552 VITA
SC-CHAP/ Project HOME
Community Impact Strategy By working with our affiliated programs, we can address conditions and behaviors that serve as barriers to long-term improvement while simultaneously providing for immediate needs Health Vision: Individuals and families will live a healthy lifestyle Goals: People will have access to critical services to support a healthy lifestyle People will have access to nutritious foods Children will have a healthy start in life Individuals will make healthy choices
Affiliated Programs:
• Comprehensive Information and Referral, 2-1-1 Northeast Michigan Call Center • Child Abuse Prevention Education (CAPE), CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region • Sexual Assault Center, Child & Family Service of Saginaw • Counseling Center, Child & Family Service of Saginaw • Sustainability of Basic Assistance Program, First Ward Community Service • Food Rescue & Distribution Program, Hidden Harvest • Healthy Choices Family Dinner Hour, LSSM-Neighborhood House • Prevention & Youth Services Drug Education Center, Saginaw County Youth Protection Council • Vision Clinic, Special Needs Vision Clinic • Counseling & Advocacy for Victims of Domestic Violence and Stalking, Underground Railroad, Inc.
Education Vision: Every student graduates ready to be a successful contributor to society Goals: Children, birth to age 5, will be prepared to start school Elementary students will be able to read at grade level or better Children will have a positive role model in their lives Students will have the skills necessary to transition successfully throughout their entire educational career
Affiliated Programs:
• Youth Mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region • LACER After School Program, First Ward Community Service • Scouting Outreach Program, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan • Guiding Light After School Academic Enrichment Program, LSSM-Neighborhood House • Youth Literacy Mentor Program, READ Association of Saginaw County • Teen Parent Services, Saginaw County Youth Protection Council • Innerlink-Shelter for Runaway and Homeless Youth, Saginaw County Youth Protection Council
Financial Stability Vision: Individuals and families move to long-term financial stability and self-sufficiency Goals: Children will have early access to financial education Adults will effectively and confidently manage their finances Vulnerable adults will protect their savings and assets People will have the life skills to be successfully employed
Affiliated Programs:
• Helping Individuals Retain Employment (H.I.R.E.) Teen Program, First Ward Community Service • Job Club-Job Readiness Program for Special Education Students, SVRC Industries, Inc. • Social Services Emergency Assistance, The Salvation Army • Getting Ahead-Financial Education, YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region
Making a Difference for Saginaw County We are leaders in our field developing partnerships, tracking progress and bringing the right people together to make positive change for every child, family and individual in Saginaw County
LEGEND: - AmeriCorps Sites - Emergency Food & Shelter Sites - Project Independence - Imagination Library - Lexia Sites - Youth Service Day Schools - Project HOME - VITA Sites
Saginaw Metropolitian Area
*Icons on the maps represent areas within the community that either host a Community Impact Program or represent an aggregate area where the program has made an impact in 2015
Saginaw County
2015 Community Impact Programs & Accomplishments HEALTH Vision: Individuals and families will live a healthy lifestyle
AmeriCorps - Healthy Kids Healthy Futures Partnership Program The AmeriCorps Healthy Kids Healthy Futures Partnership program continued its mission to increase healthy attitudes and behaviors in youth and families in the areas of physical activity, nutrition, substance abuse and violence. The program enlists passionate and engaged members in a collaborative network of nonprofit organizations to expand and enhance existing programs in Saginaw and Carrollton. Through this program, nonprofit agencies are able to leverage dollars and share resources as AmeriCorps members help foster collaboration and shared outcomes. Members receive first-hand experience serving alongside local nonprofit organizations, while learning valuable skills such as leadership, teamwork and professionalism. “Here in Saginaw, the AmeriCorps program has held a huge amount of positive influence on both the members and the community," said Susie Balcom, AmeriCorps/LeaderCorps member. "The opportunity to dive so deeply into numerous agencies around the area has given us insight into so many diverse social issues and what the people around us are doing to combat those issues. I know our involvement in the community has shaped change in the area as well, and I believe that our service has touched so many lives,” added Balcom.
27 AmeriCorps Members 80 Adults Engaged 1,038 Non-duplicated Youth Reached 16,675 Hours Served
Emergency Food and Shelter Program The Emergency Food and Shelter Program is designed to supplement the work of local social service agencies, both nonprofit and governmental, in an effort to help people with economic emergencies. The funding process is open to all organizations helping hungry and homeless people. The funding and administrative responsibility is handled by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A local board, facilitated by United Way of Saginaw County and consisting of several community leaders, makes the final determination as to which agencies will receive supplemental funding each year. Saginaw County has been receiving this support since 1991. In that time, the local board has awarded more than $2.9 million to existing programs helping those in our community in need of food and shelter. Awarded agencies provide funding to qualifying individuals and work with them to avoid future crises.
Project Independence Labor volunteers and community members come together each year to design, construct and install approximately 10 mobility ramps for low-income, disabled Saginaw County residents. In 2015, more than 150 volunteers worked together to complete 10 ramps. “The impact you can have on a family’s life is well worth the few hours it takes to construct each ramp. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re helping the family gain their independence and have freedom to easily enter and exit their own home,” said Tony Bell, past volunteer. This program is unique in that it literally frees residents from their homes and gives them more than just a free ramp. Year after year, recipients are thankful for being able to have their independence back. One recipient shared, “With the ramp I received, I am finally able to leave on my own, not having to rely on anyone else. I am so thankful I can finally go out and get my granddaughter off the bus again. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make our lives better.”
2015 Community Impact Programs & Accomplishments EDUCATION Vision: Every student graduates ready to be a successful contributor to society Imagination Library The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program provides children, ages birth to five, with high-quality, age-appropriate books regardless of the family’s income. The books are sent directly to the child’s home once a month, at no cost to the family. United Way believes preparing a child for success should start long before formal education begins. By promoting access to key literacy skills from birth, our goal is to build a foundation in each child which supports a readiness for learning. The program is currently serving 1,400 children in 17 school districts. More than 1,774 children have graduated from the program since its start in 2010. "Kyle loved getting a book every month. Each time we went to get the mail he would ask if there was a book for him. We have the books in the house and in the car. We love to read!!" - MeShell Larson, Parent
Lexia Lexia Learning Reading Core5, for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, and Lexia Strategies (for older students) is an individual reading curriculum implemented in after school programs, out of school time and summer program settings. The Lexia program is evidence-based and has been shown to create significant progress in reading levels. Students learn, practice and consolidate fundamental literacy skills all while having fun. The program includes activities that work on six components of reading and can be utilized using any electronic device with online access to the software. In the first year of implementation (launched in 2014 in Saginaw County), 12 local nonprofit organizations used the program with their students and have already seen students reaching their end of the year benchmarks. Helping students to read at their appropriate grade level, or even above, is a huge success for our community. The Lexia program helps to ensure the success of United Way’s community-wide vision of improving education.
Youth Service Days Nearly 300 local volunteers came together to clean, plant, paint and prune at nonprofit organizations and community areas during the 2015 Spring Into Service Day event. The Giving Back Task Force, coordinated by United Way and Saginaw Community Foundation, organized this 13th Annual event, a joint effort between multiple Saginaw community partners. Designed to help teach high school students the importance of leadership, teamwork and leaving a lasting impression on their community, volunteers from all walks of life came together to successfully accomplish their mission. Students and teachers from 16 area high schools joined the efforts with local young professionals and community volunteers. The volunteers were divided into seven groups, transported to their sites and worked side-by-side to help beautify the local nonprofits and community areas. "I felt that I helped the COMMUNITY!" - Kylie, Swan Valley
"It was AMAZING!" - Nathan, Saginaw High
"I would do this again in a HEARTBEAT" - Briana, Chesaning Union
2015 Community Impact Programs & Accomplishments FINANCIAL STABILITY Vision: Individuals and families will move to long-term financial stability and self-sufficiency Project HOME (Household Occupancy Maintained Efficiently) Project HOME has been serving the community since 2009 and continues to provide homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services for those who are about to become homeless or are literally homeless. This program is funded with Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) dollars received from both the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and the City of Saginaw. In 2015, Project HOME took 2,064 calls for assistance with utility/rental arrearages or rapid rehousing. With ESG dollars available, we were able to provide short term assistance (security deposits, utility arrearages, 1-3 months rental arrearage and/or 1-3 months leasing assistance) to 56 qualified individuals/families which prevented them from becoming homeless and rapidly rehoused 14 homeless families.
Impacting Real People One young mother with two children left an abusive situation in another state and moved to Michigan. She was without any family or resources and ended up in one of our local shelters. Shelter staff immediately referred her to Project HOME for assistance to rapidly rehouse her and her children. Project HOME staff provided this mother with leasing and utility assistance to successfully relocate the mom and children into safe, affordable housing away from her abuser. Since that time, she has secured employment and is able to maintain stable housing without further assistance from the program.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Saginaw County residents with low-to-moderate income that cannot afford to pay for tax preparation can have their taxes prepared for FREE by trained professionals thanks to the VITA program and all our partners that make the program possible. This program has been assisting Saginaw County residents for the past 18 years under the auspices of United Way of Saginaw County. In 2015 there were five VITA sites located throughout Saginaw County. 2015 Program Success
MILLION Returned
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"The VITA program is a great example of what great, incredible things can be achieved by working together. From the volunteers giving their time to the partners who offer space, equipment, supplies and more - we thank everyone who plays a role in this program and assists community members on their path to financial stability." - United Way President/CEO, Larry Sims.
$3.1
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5,933 Returns Prepared
$
Inc
ome Tax A s
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This program would not be possible without the volunteers dedicating countless hours to the program. The efforts of the volunteers brought back $3,144,144 to Saginaw County residents.
66
Volunteers
VITA Program Sa
ginaw County
3,731 Hours Volunteered
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3,171 Taxpayers Served
Thomas J. Hetherman Campaign Awards
The Hetherman Awards recognize three companies and their employees for excellence in the United Way annual community fundraising campaign. The awards are a tribute to the late Thomas J. Hetherman, a former United Way of Saginaw County President/CEO who served our community from 1957 to 1981.
McDonald Auto Group - Small Firm Recipient (Under 100 employees) McDonald Auto Group has a long history of supporting the communities they do business in. The company strongly believes in their community and wants to see it thrive. Understanding that many people will need assistance at some point, the company supports United Way as their efforts can address the greatest needs and challenges facing those in our community. In an effort to run their campaign a little differently and as a way to engage their customers, McDonald Auto Group held a ‘Test Drive for United Way’ campaign. During the month of October, every test drive resulted in a $10 donation to United Way. They also hosted a chili cook-off where staff paid to sample all the entries and then were able to vote for their favorite and concluded their campaign efforts with a bake sale. “This was the first campaign I ran at McDonald Auto Group and I was so impressed by the involvement of all our staff in every event we did,” said Campaign Coordinator, Angela Hayes. “Everyone took part in some fashion to help make this a successful campaign. I am lucky to be able to work with a group of people who truly care about others. I can’t wait to see what we come up with for the next campaign,” said Hayes. Past recipients include: Chemical Bank - STARS/United Steelworkers Union Local 9036 - Amigo Mobility International, Inc. – Rehmann – Wanigas Credit Union
UPS/UPS Freight/Teamsters Local 406 - Medium Firm Recipient (Between 101 and 300 employees) The teams at UPS/UPS Freight and Teamsters Local 406 have been United Way supporters for more than 20 years. They credit their efforts of giving back to the communities they serve in as part of the UPS Culture. Their partnership with United Way has been a vital element of that commitment. “By giving to United Way, we are able to deliver impact to those who are most in need,” said Craig Specht, service center manager. In addition to hosting a traditional fundraising campaign, they host various fundraisers and even designate a ‘United Way' month. During that month, the team goes the extra mile to raise funds and educate newer employees on the importance of giving back. They encourage employees to get involved by volunteering and schedule volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The UPS team has volunteered with a variety of UWSC programs, from beautifying parks to mentoring local youth. By engaging and educating employees on the work UWSC is doing in the community, the UPS overall participation rate increased by 40 percent during the 2015 campaign, and their collective giving increased by 54 percent. “We are proud to support United Way of Saginaw County," said Verne Stevens, Saginaw business manager Northeast Division. “UPS and its employees have a long-standing commitment to the communities where we live and work. Together with UWSC, we can make a positive impact on the lives of many families in Saginaw County,” added Stevens. Past recipients include: Spence Brothers - Team One Credit Union – KUKA Assembly and Test Corp. – Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants – SVRC Industries, Inc.
Saginaw Valley State University - Large Firm Recipient (More than 301 employees) Established in 1963, Saginaw Valley State University's first graduating class featured ten students. A half-century and more than 42,000 graduates later, SVSU has grown into a thriving institution with a rich history of student success, 90 strong academic programs and a recognized commitment to community engagement. SVSU and the United Way share similar values. The United Way Model states "people can live their best when they are educated, healthy and financially stable." SVSU strives to create a culture of wellness on campus. "We like to say a Healthy U makes for a Healthier SVSU," said Cynthia Bala, co-chair of SVSU's United Way campaign. United Way's model is very similar, stating that once people have a balance in these three areas, they are able to build a thriving community. Due to this similarity, SVSU incorporated a Healthy U Wellness theme into their United Way campaign. Partnering with the SVSU Healthy U Wellness Program, the campus held the first Annual United Way Pedometer Challenge that ran concurrently with the SVSU United Way Campaign. Three kick-off events were held at different locations on campus. Employees had an opportunity to register their teams and pick up their pedometers at the kick-off event. Additionally, the first 50 participants at each event received a free ‘SVSU Lives United’ t-shirt. As an extra incentive this year, weekly drawings were held every Friday at noon during the month of October. To be eligible for the weekly drawings, employees simply had to turn in their pledge forms. Finally, within the departments where 100% of the employees turned in pledge forms, employees were entered into a drawing. The prize… lunch with the President. The campaign efforts resulted in a 34 percent increase in participation, raising 11 percent more than the past year’s efforts. Past recipients include: Covenant HealthCare - Nexteer Automotive/UAW Local 699 – The Dow Chemical Company – Frankenmuth Insurance – Nexteer Automotive/UAW Local 699
Harry S. Lund Outstanding Volunteer Award
The Harry S. Lund Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizes a volunteer who has served United Way of Saginaw County in various capacities over many years. Award recipients include some of Saginaw’s greatest leaders. Each year, these leaders/past recipients get together to decide the next recipient of this prestigious award. When discussing longevity, dedication, service and commitment to the organization, one person specifically stood out. This year the Harry S. Lund Outstanding Volunteer Award is presented to Craig Goslin. Crediting his parents (Ray and Jan) for teaching his family from an early age about the importance of helping others, Goslin is someone who goes above and beyond to help others, in any way he can. “Putting ‘smiles on faces’ for the people in our community is what makes me feel like my contribution of financial resources and time has importance,” said Goslin. He added, “being there when a homeowner experiences their new mobility ramp after a day of building with the players is very rewarding. To help those that are beneficiaries of the many programs that United Way supports encourages me to do it over and over again.” Goslin first became involved with United Way in 2002 when he began working with the Garber Management Group, thanks to encouragement from Dick Garber. Goslin served as Campaign Vice Chair in 2012 and then became one of the first volunteers in United Way history to lead as Campaign Chair two years in a row. “Craig is a steadfast leader who always leads by example,” shared United Way Board Chair, Dave Youngstrom. “His passion and dedication to any project that he becomes involved with is truly remarkable. United Way was fortunate to have him serve for two consecutive years as our Campaign Chair, helping increase our partnerships within the community while growing the campaign. His enthusiasm and continuous involvement in our community makes him a perfect recipient for this prestigious award,” added Youngstrom. In addition to his active support of United Way of Saginaw County, Goslin’s involvement in the Saginaw County community as well as the Great Lakes Bay Region is far reaching. Thanks to his and his team’s efforts, the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation and its partners are responsible for more than $250,000 annually in charitable support back to the Great Lakes Bay Region. United Way Board Member, Herbert A. Spence shared, “Craig is the most passionate and energetic cheerleader for our community that I know. The United Way is fortunate that he believes that supporting and getting others to support United Way is the most effective way to ensure our community and neighbors have a better future. We are also grateful he remains an active member of our Board of Directors and continues to support Saginaw and the Great Lakes Bay Region in many ways.” With the support of his family (wife Karolyn, sons Brent and Kevin, and daughter Jaclyn), Goslin continues to proudly impact lives throughout our community. He added, “I am proud to be associated with the great people that make up the staff and Board of Directors of United Way. It’s all about people helping people – what could be more gratifying and worthwhile?”
Past recipients include: George Heilbronn - Herbert A. Spence III - Thomas Begin - Barbara A. Russell – Dr. Craig Douglas
Employee Campaign Manager (ECM) of The Year - Julie Burdis Year after year it appears that every successful campaign has at least one thing in common, an Employee Campaign Manager (ECM) dedicating time to coordinate, educate and lead their team. The ECM plays a crucial role in gaining support from leadership, making the campaign a fun time for all, educating staff of the impact United Way plays in the community and increasing company participation. The second annual ECM of the Year Award is proudly being presented to Julie Burdis, ECM for Spence Brothers. Spence Brothers holds an annual employee pledge campaign, supported by various fundraising activities. Some campaign fundraising activities has been an annual raffle, Trash to Treasures sale, 50/50 kick-off drawing, jeans day, early-pledge drawing, U of M/MSU football contest, taco/nacho lunch and chili lunch. A corporate donation is always included with their campaign and in 2014, the team began offering retirees the option to contribute via the employee campaign. Each year, employees who participate are rewarded with a homemade blueberry pancake breakfast by President & CEO, Herb Spence. For the last couple years, Burdis has chaired an internal fundraising committee in effort to increase employee participation and support of their campaigns. The team effort has been effective in implementing more creative fundraising activities, as well as garnering additional employee support from their Saginaw, Ann Arbor and Traverse City offices. Burdis believes the success of a campaign first begins with great company leadership, crediting her president and management team as vital supporters to their campaign. “They have been instrumental in assisting with communicating the needs of our communities to the employees within our company,” said Burdis. “Julie is very deserving of this recognition,” said Spence. “Spence Brothers, the United Way and our community have all benefited from Julie’s commitment to putting everything she has into whatever she is asked to do. She has truly made a tremendous difference for our community through her work on our company’s and the overall United Way campaign for many years,” added Spence.
LIVE UNITED Labor Award Recipient - CWA Local 4108 Community Service Committee Each year a LIVE UNITED Labor Award is presented to an individual or group that represents the Labor community and reflects what it means to LIVE UNITED. Recipients honored are selfless individuals who give their time, talents and treasure to help influence the condition of all. This year the award honors the efforts of the CWA Local 4108 Community Service Committee (Lisa Atkinson, Penny Geese and Stacie McConnell). “The CWA Local 4108 Community Service Committee is a group that is always willing to help,” said Steven Lamb, United Way labor liaison. “They a great example of what labor does in and for our community, volunteering to help whenever needed. Whether helping with the United Way campaign, local community projects or by adopting families during Christmas, we can always count on their group for their participation and eagerness to help wherever they can,” added Lamb. Their community involvement is far reaching. Some of the many projects they have worked on include: coordinating Easter food baskets give-a-ways, assisting with school supply drives, attending Union Community Activist Network classes, participating in Light Up the City walks and volunteering with annual Youth Service Days, Project Independence ramp builds, United Way fundraising campaigns as well as many more community projects through several other organizations. The CWA Local 4108 Community Service Committee showcases what it means to LIVE UNITED. We applaud them for all their efforts and thank them for setting a great example for others to follow.
Thank you for your continued support!
LIVE UNITED
of Saginaw County
Help create an impact in Saginaw County at UnitedWaySaginaw.org 100 S. Jefferson Ave., 3rd Fl. Saginaw, MI 48607 (989) 755-0505