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Tim Parker to lead community campaign
Tim Parker, President of Harbor Industries, Inc. of Grand Haven, will chair Greater Ottawa County United Way’s 2010-11 Community Campaign, set to kick off September 16.
Parker will announce the Community Campaign Goal for 2010 at Yogi Bear Camp & Resort in Grand Haven Township at 1:00 p.m. on September 16, which is also the date for United Way’s Day of Caring, the largest one-day volunteer event in Ottawa County. More than 600 volunteers have already signed up to complete volunteer projects throughout the county, and all volunteers are invited to Yogi Bear Camp & Resort for a free picnic lunch, prize drawings, fun, and campaign activities from 11:30 to 1:00. Since 2001, Day of Caring has been the traditional kickoff of United Way’s Community Campaign in Ottawa County.
This year, Parker says that Ottawa County businesses are showing signs of recovery, and that gives campaign officials reason for optimism.
“Many of our local companies that run workplace campaigns have begun hiring again, and they are dedicating themselves to participating in both the drive for donations as well as our goal to ‘raise’ 4,300 volunteers throughout Ottawa County. And, for everyone who does not work at a company that runs a campaign, we offer the chance to sign up at www.ottawaunitedway.org to donate or volunteer with a click of a mouse,” Parker said.
He also noted that more companies have signed on as campaign sponsors this year than last, with Fifth Third Bank and The Holland Sentinel as Platinum sponsors; AD Bos Vending Services, Harbor Industries, Inc., Magna Mirrors of America and Shape Corporation as Gold Sponsors; and Haworth, Inc., Lake Trust Credit Union, Michigan Commerce Bank and Varnum Law as silver sponsors.
“Sponsor dollars help United Way to run the campaign so that more of the dollars donated can be reinvested back into our local community. This year, 61 programs of 41 local nonprofit agencies are receiving United Way community investment dollars, and their work touches the lives of more than one in four people in Ottawa County,” Parker said.
Parker leads a campaign cabinet of 44 volunteers from area companies, organizations and agencies who have been working throughout the summer to launch the campaign. They are meeting with the heads of the more than 200 major firms, small businesses, professional offices and governmental units in the county to thank them for their past support and lend any assistance they may require in setting up their 2010 workplace campaigns. Parker also noted that several companies have already launched “pacesetter” campaigns. These include Mercantile Bank in Holland, Community Shores Bank in Grand Haven, Shape Corporation in Grand Haven and Pliant Plastics in Spring Lake. Haworth, Inc., traditionally the top campaign in Ottawa County, will launch its workplace campaign with a breakfast honoring long-time and leadership givers on August 25.
Parker has a long history of service to United Way. He served Tri Cities United Way in leadership roles for many years, and then served on the board of Greater Ottawa County United Way from its inception, including as treasurer and vice chair, until his retirement in 2009 due to term limits. He and his wife Jill Parker were the Lighthouse Leadership Circle Chairs of the north county for the 2008-09 campaign and last year he served as chair of the newly formed Health Division of the campaign cabinet. In 2004, Parker was the recipient of United Way’s lifetime achievement award for community service and philanthropy, the G.W. Haworth Strength of the Community Award … and the youngest ever to receive it.
Parker is the third generation of the Parker family to head up Harbor Industries, a designer and producer of retail displays, fixtures and digital media solutions for companies worldwide. In 2009 the United States Small Business Administration named Harbor Industries the Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business of the Year for the entire United States.
Parker and his wife Jill are Spring Lake residents and the parents of two sons. He graduated from Michigan State University and earned a Masters of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve.
For more information, telephone 396-7811 in Holland, 842-7130 in Grand Haven.
MORE Day of Caring Volunteers, Projects Needed
Hundreds of volunteers have already signed up for the county-wide Day of Caring set for Thursday September 16, and the list of projects to be completed is growing by the day, but Greater Ottawa County United Way is still accepting projects and volunteers.
Anyone interested in helping or anyone who has a project to be completed is asked to contact Shannon Morton, United Way’s Director of Volunteerism, (616) 610-1338 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it no later than August 15. Sign up forms and more info can also be found online at www.ottawaunitedway.org/volunteer/events-and-happenings.
Day of Caring is the biggest single day of volunteerism in Ottawa County, and last year’s Day of Caring saw 64 projects completed in one day by nearly 700 volunteers. The value of that volunteerism exceeded $80,000 in labor support to the community.
Examples of projects include organizing a food pantry, brightening up a nonprofit organization’s offices with a fresh coat of paint, or building a bridge in a county park. While some projects can take most of the day, many can be completed in a half day, either morning or afternoon. In addition to company teams, individuals may also volunteer and will be assigned to teams.
Said Morton, “No project is too big or too small. Without projects, work can’t be done; and without our incredible volunteers, lives aren’t able to be changed for the better.”
Volunteers are rewarded with a free barbeque lunch, donated, cooked and served by A.D. Bos Vending Services, Inc., of Holland, at Yogi Bear Camp & Resort on US-31 just south of M45. In addition to A.D. Bos, generous donations from Sara Lee Corporation and Yogi Bear Camp and Resort help to provide this festive community event. WGHN FM will broadcast live from Yogi Bear Resort from 11:30-1:00 on September 16.
September 16 also marks the official kick-off for Greater Ottawa County United Way’s Annual Community Campaign, which this year has been titled “Campaign 10/11: “The Building Blocks of a Better Life.” For more information on how to give, advocate, or volunteer to advance the common good in Ottawa County, visit www.ottawaunitedway.org.
New Associate Director of Development and Communications Joins Staff
Greater Ottawa County United Way welcomes Michelle Thyfault of Spring Lake to its staff as Associate Director of Development and Communications.
Thyfault was the Marketing & Membership Director at Tri-Cities Family YMCA since 2007 and moved to West Michigan in 2006 from El Paso, Texas. While living in Texas, she worked for Pepsi-Cola and First Light Federal Credit Union in the roles of business development and community outreach. In addition, she taught marketing as an instructor for the University of Phoenix on a campus in Santa Teresa, NM and continues to teach from the Grand Rapids campus.
“I absolutely love the Lakeshore community and enjoy being involved from all levels,” she said. “With The United Way being such an integral part of any community, I can’t imagine a better place to work and really participate with my newfound neighbors.”
Thyfault graduated with an MBA from the University of Texas at El Paso and now resides in Spring Lake, Michigan, with her husband Philip Haynes and her two children, Riley (17) and Hayden (9). She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , (616) 396-7811 Ext. 202 in Holland or (616) 842-7130 in Grand Haven.
Day of Caring Projects, Volunteers Needed
Greater Ottawa County United Way has set Thursday September 16 as the date for the annual, county-wide Day of Caring; and Shannon Morton, United Way Director of Volunteerism, is seeking projects in need of volunteers and volunteers eager to complete projects on that day.
United Way’s Day of Caring has been a tradition for ten years in Ottawa County. On this one day, hundreds of volunteers take to the streets to complete projects at agencies, homes, schools, parks, and local landmarks. On Day of Caring 2009, more than 700 volunteers from local businesses, schools, and organizations completed 90 projects across the county.
Examples of past projects include helping senior citizens and people with disabilities with yard and home maintenance, reading to children, organizing a food pantry, brightening up a nonprofit organization’s offices with a fresh coat of paint, or building a community playground. While some projects can take most of the day, many can be completed in a half day, either morning or afternoon,
Morton encourages any citizen or organization with a project that needs to be done to contact her at (616) 610-1338 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it as soon as possible. Projects can range in size from something that five people can do to something that 20 people can complete in from four to eight hours.
Said Morton, “No project is too big or too small. Without projects, work can’t be done; and without our incredible volunteers, lives aren’t able to be changed for the better.” Companies and organizations that would like to volunteer a team for Day of Caring are also encouraged to contact Morton soon.
Volunteers are rewarded with a barbeque lunch, donated and served by A.D. Bos Vending Services, Inc., of Holland, at Yogi Bear Camp & Resort on US-31 just south of M45. In addition to A.D. Bos, generous donations from Sara Lee Corporation and Yogi Bear Camp and Resort help to provide this festive community event.
September 16 also marks the official kick-off for Greater Ottawa County United Way’s Annual Community Campaign, which this year has been titled “Campaign 10/11: “The Building Blocks of a Better Life.” For more information on how to give, advocate, or volunteer to advance the common good in Ottawa County, visit www.ottawaunitedway.org.
2009 Day of Caring Volunteers cleaned, painted, and fixed up the facilities at The Critter Barn in Zeeland.
Nine Students Receive Service Awards
Director of Volunteerism Shannon Morton made the rounds to high school awards ceremonies in Ottawa County in April and May, bestowing the Michigan Governor’s Excellence in Service Awards (for 400 hours of community service) on five Student Service Learning graduates of four high schools in Ottawa County. They are:
Megan Bos, Black River High School, Holland, who logged 1,076 volunteer hours.
Hannah Selig, Black River High School, 600 hours
Grace Sterenberg, Grand Haven High School, 515 hours
Shelby Shafer, Spring Lake High School, 1051 hours
Aubreanne Meintsma, Coopersville High School, 1,336 hours.
Another four more students, all graduates of Grand Haven High School, received the United Way Service Award for performing at least 100 hours of service during high school. They are Justin Scharporn, Kalie Richard, Jeanne Sherman, and Rachael Toepfer.
Congratulations 2010 SSL grads! To learn more about United Way's Student Service Learning program, click "Volunteer" on the home page at www.ottawaunitedway.org.
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