2011 Campaign Highlights

More than 320 people attended the United Way Victory Celebration on the evening of December 7 at Roma Lodge where the 2011 campaign results were announced by Christopher Ruud, president of Ruud Lighting and United Way Campaign Chair. Thanks to the support of hundreds of companies, organizations and an estimated 10,000 individuals, a projected total of $5,250,000 was raised during this year’s United Way campaign efforts throughout Racine County.

Ruud led this year’s campaign with the help of more than 20 community leaders in his Campaign Cabinet and ten Loaned Employees. In addition, hundreds of people volunteered in workplace campaigns with many of these volunteers attending Wednesday. Ruud was pleased by the positive response shown by the community. “This event is the celebration of the generosity of so many people despite the challenging economic times. These dollars will make a meaningful and measurable change in the lives of thousands across Racine County.”

During the evening, campaign success stories were shared with examples of innovative approaches companies had taken. At Andis, more than 20 employees volunteered to get a Mohawk haircut along with company president Matt Andis if they reached their own 2011 goal. Andis not only met that goal, but exceeded their past year’s total by 22 percent. They have increased their campaign by 200 percent in the last four years.

CNH is one of the largest of the local campaigns wrapping up their 2011 campaign. To-date, CNH is already 20 percent ($120,000) ahead of last year as a result of engaging leadership from across the divisions and locations and doing a multitude of successful special events.

Small businesses can also mean big impact. The CEOs of Alliant Physical Therapy Group, Carpetland, David Insurance, Express Employment Professionals, and Image Management all participated in a Klement’s Sausage Race. The event was held at David Insurance and included a fundraising cookout. These companies also partnered with RAMAC and Piggly Wiggly – Washington on a Halloween party and two Packers parties.

For communities in western Racine County, the new Action Committee increased awareness of United Way presence and campaign efforts in the communities of Burlington, Waterford and Union Grove. Committee member Pat Hoffman, shared, “Many people don’t acknowledge the reach of United Way and the impact all across the county. Spreading the word in our local communities is helping lay the groundwork for United Way to accomplish even more in western Racine County.”

Special fundraising efforts in support of the expansion of United Way’s community impact initiative, Advancing Family Assets, resulted in significant contributions from key community leaders, above and beyond their regular workplace campaign commitments, due to their particular interests in employment and financial stability of low-wage working families.

United Way of Racine County acknowledges the significant contributions of the following organizations and their employees where total giving at each company is $50,000 or more annually. Together, these organizations have pledged more than $4,000,000 to this year’s campaign:

Andis Company
CNH America LLC
Diversey, Inc.
Educators Credit Union
InSinkErator
Johnson Financial Group
Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
Modine Manufacturing Company
Racine Federated, Inc.
Ruud Lighting, Inc.
SC Johnson & Son, Inc.
Twin Disc, Inc.
WE Energies
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare/All Saints

The $5.25 million campaign total includes projections on companies, individual donors, national accounts and designations from other regional United Ways that will be received locally throughout the first quarter of 2012.

For more information on running a campaign, please contact Tracy Nielsen, VP - Marketing and Resource Development at 262-898-2249.

See the article on the campaign results by the Journal Times.

See video from the Victory Celebration event on our YouTube page.