With more than two dozen workplaces with increased donations, a record-setting corporate contribution and a campaign set to exceed its goal, Genesee Country United Way is off to a banner year.
At the agency's annual meeting and campaign finale Thursday at Terry Hills Restaurant, United Way's 2010 board chair Jane Scott announced a successful campaign total of $383,067.
She also said this has been a year of transition for United Way, with a new director and moving its office from Ellicott Street to 29 Liberty St.
Scott opened the annual meeting, in which Jay Gsell, chair of the Nominating Committee, presented the names of Gina Weaver, Todd Masters, Samantha Southall, Gregg McAllister, Diane Torcello and Tom Turnbull, who were elected to serve on the Board of Directors for a three-year term.
Also elected were Jane Scott, board chair; Jeanne Wormuth, vice chair; Rebecca Rider, secretary; and Samantha Southall, treasurer.
Campaign co-chairs Dan and Debbie Fisher praised campaign coordinators who led fundraising efforts in their workplaces
''We are overwhelmed with the support companies and businesses are giving United Way,'' Mr. Fisher said. ''Every dollar you give is used to support a non-profit agency in our community. With a 90-year history in Genesee County, United Way has shown times may change, but we will remain strong and unfailing. Every dollar you give stays right here in your community and goes to help your friends and families.''
He said one dollar a week can provide three hours of counseling for a youth at risk or groceries for a week for a needy person.
Mrs. Fisher said more than half of the locally-raised campaign money was contributed by individuals working in Genesee County.
Plaques were presented to the workplaces which increased their donations this year. Topping the list was Chapin Manufacturing whose increase of $3,933 brought its donation to $50,252, making it the first company in Genesee County history to exceed the $50,000 level. For its efforts, it earned a Special Recognition Award.
Other notable increases in giving were Allen Canning, $11,900 in the Oakfield plant and $7,200 in the Bergen plant; Graham Manufacturing, $5,829; Cargill, $4,200; Liberty Pumps, $3,600; United Memorial Medical Center, $3,287; Genesee Community College, $1,475; and the Willow Group, $1,238.
O-At-Ka Milk Products increased its donation by $3,000 and has become the first business to start a year-round campaign. With Rosemary Olow and Lori Lukasik leading the workplace campaign, they will have monthly fundraisers, giveaways and special events to continue their United Way campaign.
Also posting increases in donations were Tops in Batavia, Byron-Bergen Central School, WBTA, Orcon, GCASA, Freed Maxick and Battaglia, YMCA, Bank of Castile, Batavia Radiology, Genesee Valley BOCES, Burgh and Schoenberger, the Insurance Center, Jackson Elementary School, Robert Morris Elementary School, P.W. Minor and the town of Batavia.
Four companies who achieved 100 percent participation were the Insurance Center, WBTA, Planned Parenthood and Shepard, Maxwell and Hale.
United Way Director Jamie Beedham-Rada presented the Campaign Coordinator Award to Dennis Burke of Liberty Pumps, whose efforts in his workplace resulted in an increased donation from $6,400 last year to $10,000 this year.
The United Way School District of the Year Award went to Byron-Bergen Central School for a 20 percent increase in donations.
The United Way Partner of the Year honors a service provider who works to promote the partnership during the campaign and throughout the year. This year's winners, Captains Bob and Patricia Kurtz from The Salvation Army, were honored for helping support and develop United Way's new Backpack Program.
Previous United Way director Lori Stupp began working on the Backpack Program for Batavia schools last year. Purpose of the program is to provide food for underprivileged children on weekends, when they are not in school and may be going hungry. Currently, 90 children are being fed under the program, but studies indicate many more are in need.
The backpacks are filled with donated food at The Salvation Army every Thursday morning. The child takes the filled backpack home on Friday and brings it back Monday or Tuesday to be refilled for the following week.
A newly formed committee is currently working on new ideas for funding, volunteering and advertising for the program. Donations of food or money may be dropped off at the United Way office, The Salvation Army or The Daily News.
Rada acknowledged the support received from Dan and Debbie Fisher, who own WBTA, and The Daily News, whose employees donate several large garbage bags of food monthly for the Backpack Program.
Large banners were presented to Allen Canning's Oakfield plant and to Cargill Animal Nutrition for growing their workplace campaign.
Allen Canning's increase from $2,900 last year to $7,400 this year resulted in a total donation of $14,800 with their corporate match.
Likewise, Cargill's increase from $2,800 to $7,000 was not only matched by the local corporation, but by the national corporation, as well.
''So every dollar donated becomes three,'' Mr. Fisher said.
The last award, named for the late Barber Conable, went to County Manager Jay Gsell, board member and chair of this year's Nominating Committee.
The award is one of honor and prestige, Rada said. It recognizes an individual, organization or business who has dedicated themselves to the well-being of the community.
''Mr. Conable was a lifelong supporter of United Way, and his wife Charlotte has continue this support throughout the years,'' Rada said.
Gsell's supoort of United Way began with his first payroll deduction in 1975, he said.
''When I was a kid, I thought Barber Conable was one of the best people in the world, and I am honored to receive this award,'' Gsell said. ''I had no idea.''
He said United Way is all about volunteering, commitment and what we can do for our community.
Gsell and his wife Ann Marie have agreed to chair the 2011 United Way campaign.
Scott and Susie Boyce reported on the annual United Way Day of Caring, scheduled this year for May 18.
''If you haven't volunteered before, you might want to do it this year,'' Boyce said.
Their target is to have 300 volunteers to do projects in the community. A request for projects will go out this week, and are due back March 4, Boyce said.
The committee is also looking for sponsorships of $100 each for the day.
Rada concluded the luncheon by sharing her vision of United Way.
''I like to think of United Way as what we do is payment forward,'' she said. ''Every dollar you give comes back to help someone in your community. I ask every one of you to encourage someone to pay it forward by giving to United Way.''
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Oakfield native takes the helm
The new director of Genesee Country United Way is no stranger to the area.
Jamie Beedham-Rada, 29, is an Oakfield native, who graduated in 2000 from Oakfield-Alabama Central School.
Rada and her husband Ryan Rada live in the house in Oakfield where she grew up.
She always knew she wanted a career where she could help people, she said.
A previous prevention educator at GCASA in Batavia, Rada stepped into the United Way director's position last Sept. 27, after Lori Stupp left to assume a position as foundation director at United Memorial Medical Center.
Rada said she enjoys public speaking and creative thinking, and looks forward to putting those skills to use to forward the cause of United Way.
''My goal here is to tap into the smaller businesses -- and some larger ones -- who haven't been approached to support United Way before,'' Rada said.