Recognition

Award Criteria:

Every year at its annual Celebration (held this year on March 26) Greater Ottawa County United Way recognizes the outstanding companies and individuals who helped advance the common good in our community by giving, advocating, and volunteering. 

The following five criteria are used to select award recipients. Some awards are given when 3 of these criteria are achieved, while others require 4 of the 5 criteria to be achieved. When a company achieves all 5 of the following criteria, it receives the prestigious Cappon & Bertsch Community Builder Award.

  1. An increase of employee giving from the previous year
  2. At least $200 average gift
  3. 50% or more participation in campaign giving
  4. Employee volunteer involvement (with United Way internally, Day of Caring, or corporate volunteer projects)
  5. Three or more employees giving at the Lighthouse Leadership Circle level ($500+)

Spirit Award: Major Firms

A Spirit Award is presented to major firms who meet 4 out of 5 of the award criteria. The 2009 Spirit Award recipients are:

Anderson Technologies
Brilliance Audio, Inc.
Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Co.
Shape Corporation

Award of Excellence: Major Firms

An Award of Excellence is presented to major firms who meet 3 out of 5 of the award criteria.

Haworth
Global Technologies, Inc.
GHSP/Division of JSJ Corporation
Holland Sentinel
Howard Miller Clock Company
Huntington Bank
ITW Drawform
Target
Tennant Company
Woodward FST

Gold Award: Small Business/Professional/Government

A Gold Award is presented to small businesses, professionals, and government organizations who meet 4 out of 5 of the award criteria.

AD Bos Vending Services
Bekins Audio/Video Appliance, Inc.
Community Shores Bank
Mercantile Bank of Michigan
Priority Health

Silver Award: Small Business/Professional/Government

A Silver Award is presented to small businesses, professionals, and government organizations who meet 3 out of 5 of the award criteria.

City of Holland
County of Ottawa
Grand Haven Bank (now Michigan Commerce Bank)
Grand Haven BLP & UWUA 582
Priority Health
Varnum Riddering Schmidt & Howlett

 Golden Apple: Education

A Golden Apple Award is presented to schools who meet 4 out of 5 of the award criteria.

Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Hope College

Honor Roll :

Education

An Honor Roll Award is presented to schools who meet 3 out of 5 of the award criteria.

Coopersville Area Public Schools
Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
Zeeland Public Schools

Champion: Non-Profit Division

A Champion Award is presented to nonprofit organizations that meet 4 out of 5 of the award criteria

Greater Ottawa County United Way
Children's Advocacy Center

Community Patron: Non-Profit Division

A Community Patron Award is presented to nonprofit organizations that meet 3 out of 5 of the award criteria

Good Samaritan Ministries
Pathways, MI

Pinnacle of Partnership Award

The recipient of this award exemplifies a commitment to improve the quality of life for Ottawa County residents through leadership in service and education as well as a year round partnership with Greater Ottawa County United Way

Tri-Cities Ministries and Sarah Hochhuth, Executive Director

Out-of-the-Box Award

Recognizes the organizations who took the box, shook it up, and ran the most creative, fun and interactive campaign.

Haworth, Inc. and AJ Smith, United Way Committee Chair

Cappon & Bertsch Community Builder Award

Recognizes top organizations that exemplify a year-round partnership with United Way, including participation in Day of Caring, Community Investment and a commitment to workplace volunteering.  The companies below met all five of the award criteria listed above.

Grand Transformers, Inc.
Harbor Industries, Inc.
JSJ Corporation

Joe Martella Above and Beyond Award

This person goes above and beyond what is expected of a campaign coordinator. They are constantly looking to add excitement to the campaign, help others realize the importance of United Way (and it's Volunteer Center) and encourage volunteering.

2004-Liz Vanderby, A.D. Bos
2005-Mary Jane Evink, Grand Haven Area Public Schools
2006-Karen Gardner, ITW Drawform
2007-Randy Knibbe, Louis Padnos Iron & Metal
2008 – Rhonda Campbell, GHSP/Division of JSJ Corporation
2009 - Elizabeth LeGrand, Dake/Division of JSJ Corporation

G.W. Haworth Strength of the Community Award

Recognizes the company and/or individual who most embodies United Way's (and its Volunteer Center) leadership, spirit of volunteering, philanthropy, and decision-making in the allocation of philanthropic resources to our community.

2001-G.W. Haworth
2002-Patrick Thompson
2003-Lynne Sherwood
2004-Tim Parker
2005- Edward & Nancy Hanenburg
2006- Donna Cornwell
2007-Richard Haworth
2008- Shape Corporation
2009 - Grand Haven Area Public Schools

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