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“Peach Paws” Plant Trees for Earth Day
It was a beautiful spring day on Saturday April 18 when members of “Peach Paws,” a service club of students from Peach Plains Elementary School in Grand Haven, gathered with Peach Plains staff, Shannon Morton, Director of Volunteerism for Greater Ottawa County United Way and other community members to plant 675 new trees in Hiawatha Park in Grand Haven. The project was created to mark “Earth Day 2009” by working to reforest an area that was logged of its Red Pine trees. The open space was filled with jack pine, black cherry, and white pine trees.
The mature Red Pines that had been harvested were planted in the 1930s to prevent soil erosion. Many had reached the end of their natural life span and were diseased and dying. Experts say they will all die before too many more years go by. Logging living trees means they can be used for lumber to build homes and for other similar uses. After they die, they will have no value.
United Way Announces Campaign Results and Awards
Greater Ottawa County United Way has completed its annual community campaign, and Thursday night (March 26, 2009) it announced campaign results and honored outstanding volunteers at its annual Celebration Dinner. One of the highlights of the event, held at Doubletree Hotel in Holland, was the announcement of a successful campaign, with a total raised of $2,021,693. 
Students from Grand Haven and Spring Lake High Schools united with staff to reveal campaign results
“Our goal was $2.11 million, set before we launched the campaign last summer,” said Jeff Beswick, Campaign Chair. He added, “Although the campaign came in at 96 percent of goal, we consider it a victory during difficult times. Our campaign coincided with the worst financial upheaval in decades, and many people in our community have been affected. Yet everyone who could—we estimate about 10,000 people—dug down deep and gave to help their neighbors.”
President Patrick Moran added, “I believe it is a validation of United Way’s mission and its vital role in the community that we were able to raise more than two million dollars this year. As a result of our generous donors, we do not anticipate having to reduce this year’s investment in the community from last year’s level. As a matter of fact, the community investment process has just about completed, and the community investment panels are working with the same level of funding as last year.”
Highlights of the campaign include 240 workplace campaigns completed, with 35 percent of those showing increases or staying the same compared with 2008 results. And for the fourth year in a row, United Way received a gift of $30,000 from an anonymous donor who early in the campaign “challenged” Tri-Cities leadership givers (those who give $500 or more per year) to increase their giving. In order to receive the $30,000, the campaign had to tally new or increased leadership gifts of at least $30,000 from Tri-Cities area donors. Louann Werksma, United Way’s new Director of Development, reported that 98 new or increased leadership gifts totaling $49,690 were received, handily meeting that challenge. Retiree giving was up 20 percent over last year, as well, and eight new workplace campaigns were launched. In addition, United Way ventured into new ways of raising funds and awareness in the community, such as “Shop for Good” and “Dine Out for Good” partnerships, with area stores and restaurants donating a percentage of their sales on designated days to United Way. And campaign officials are anticipating a late boost to the campaign total from this weekend’s WGHN FM spring radio auction, a portion of the proceeds from which have been designated for United Way.
United Way officials said that their work could not be done without the generosity of corporate partners and volunteers alike. A “bumper crop” of 39 volunteers comprised this year’s Campaign Cabinet, and 65 community members volunteered to work on community investment panels, to decide where the dollars that are raised should be allocated.
“All, in all, there was plenty to celebrate this year, because we didn’t lose campaigns, we gained them. There was a sense of common purpose throughout, with everyone putting in extra effort to achieve success,” Werksma added.
Among the successes celebrated at Thursday’s event, United Way applauded individuals and teams for their hard work and ingenuity. Elizabeth LeGrand of Dake Corporation in Grand Haven received the Joe Martella Above and Beyond Award. This award is given to a company campaign coordinator who finds new ways to emphasize the importance of, and add excitement to, the United Way campaign within his or her company.
Three Ottawa County companies--Grand Transformers, Inc., Harbor Industries, Inc.; and JSJ Corporation--were the recipients of the major Cappon & Bertsch Community Builder Award. This award recognizes the companies that GIVE, ADVOCATE, and VOLUNTEER within the community and on behalf of United Way.
The prestigious G.W. Haworth Strength of the Community Award was, for the first time, given to a school district: Grand Haven Area Public Schools. The award recognizes the organization and/or individual that exemplifies United Way’s leadership spirit of volunteering, philanthropy, and community problem-solving. Grand Haven Area Public Schools was recognized for a successful campaign in all 12 of its buildings, the participation of its employees and retirees in United Way activities and as United Way volunteers, and for its early and comprehensive adoption of United Way’s Student Service Learning Program at Grand Haven High School.
In keeping with United Way’s LIVE UNITED philosophy, the Celebration focused on more than just campaign success. A new award—for Volunteer of the Year—was presented, and the inaugural recipient was Paul Thurman, of ITW Drawform. “Paul is dedicated to the United Way philosophy of Give, Advocate, Volunteer and Live United,” said Shannon Morton, Director of Volunteerism for Greater Ottawa County United Way. In small ways and in large, he is always out there, working for his community and for United Way.”
And on the “Advocate” side of the picture, United Way’s Director of Community Impact Liz Vanderby presented a new Impact Model to Celebration guests. To determine what the Impact Model should be, she explained, a task force representing organizations from throughout Ottawa County has been meeting since September’s release of the 5-year Ottawa County Community Assessment by United Way. “Using the information gathered in the Community Assessment, we have created a roadmap for the years ahead by focusing on three impact areas: Education, Financial Stability, and Health,” said Vanderby.
“United Way and its board, staff, and volunteers can’t thank our Ottawa County communities enough for their generosity and continuous
Dine Out for Good at Area Restaurants
Enjoy lunch or dinner out at one of four area restaurants during the week of March 22 and 10 percent of your purchase will go to Greater Ottawa County United Way's Community Investment fund--Click here for the names, locations, dates and times.
United Way Checks “80%” Mark on Campaign Thermometer
Greater Ottawa County United Way -- March 4, 2009
Despite the cool down in most economic indicators throughout the U.S., citizens in Ottawa County continue to respond warmly to the community’s most pressing needs through Greater Ottawa County United Way’s annual community campaign.
United Way tallied a total of $1,803,491 in pledges and donations through the end of February, which put the campaign at 85 percent of its $2.11 million goal—and put the red checkmarks in the 80 percent boxes on the campaign thermometer signs located throughout the county.
“With just about three weeks left, we’re hoping that our neighbors will continue this trend of generosity and help us go the distance,” said Jeff Beswick, campaign chair. More than 10,000 residents have already pledged or donated through 150 workplace campaigns or as individual investors.
Campaign officials announced that an anonymous $30,000 challenge to leadership givers in the Tri-Cities has been successfully met for the fourth year in a row, with new or increased leadership gifts of $37,213 from Tri-Cities residents earning that leadership match. Leadership givers are those who give $500 or more per year. County-wide, leadership giving through mid-February totals $480,045, or not quite 25 percent of the total goal. It is a concern to campaign officials because last year leadership giving accounted for 40 percent of the successful campaign—more than $800,000.
“Ottawa County is home to more than 200,000 people, and if only a fraction of those who have never participated before will become United Way investors in the next three weeks—with pledges or donations of any amount—we will make our goal and be able to continue our support of the more than 60 local programs that rely on United Way funds to help provide basic needs and critical services to one in four county residents,” Beswick added.
As the campaign enters the home stretch, a volunteer army of 67 citizens has already begun the intensive task of evaluating this year’s requests for funds. Teams of community investment volunteers are reviewing applications, visiting agencies, and meeting to make recommendations, which will be finalized in June. Their work is made more difficult this year due to funding requests of almost $500,000 more than what was allocated last year.
“It is gratifying that we have more volunteers than ever who have stepped forward to help with this process,” said Liz DeLaLuz Vanderby, United Way Director of Community Impact. “Many people don’t realize that it is the community, through these volunteers, that decides where the community’s dollars are invested.”
Residents who are not able to participate in the campaign through their employment may give online at www.ottawaunitedway.org, or mail a donation to Greater Ottawa County United Way,
Local businesses pitch in to help
United Way President Patrick Moran offers some unique ways to help the community while also supporting local businesses. Through the “Dine Out for Good – LIVE UNITED” partnership, 10 percent of food sales at participating restaurants on selected dates are earmarked for
And WGHN FM 92.1 in Grand Haven has made Greater Ottawa County United Way the recipient of the proceeds from its Spring Radio Auction, scheduled for Friday March 27 and Saturday March 28. Tune in from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on those two days and bid on goods and services donated by local businesses. The
“At times like these, with so much need in the community, every gift of any amount makes a difference,” Moran said. “We are grateful to these and other area businesses who are partnering with us to advance the common good in
For more information on how to Live United through the work of the Greater Ottawa County United Way, call (616) 396-7811 in Holland, (616) 842-7130 in Grand Haven.
"Dine Out for Good" at Area Restaurants
Greater Ottawa County United Way, in partnership with area eating establishments, has created a unique community partnership, "Dine Out for Good." When you dine at a participating restaurant during the specified dates, the restaurant will donate a percentage of your total bill to United Way's community investment fund.
"We are leaving no stone unturned to reach our goal of $2.11 million in the community campaign, which wraps up in March, and this is one way we can encourage people to patronize local businesses while at the same time helping to advance the common good here in Ottawa County," said United Way President Patrick Moran.
"Dine Out for Good Partners" and the dates they are participating are:
Old Boys Brewhouse, Spring Lake, Feb 22nd – 26th and March 22nd-26th. 10% of the total bill will be donated to UW.
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