United Way announces campaign results, awards, board members

PIONEER VALLEY – The 2009 United Way of Pioneer Valley raised $6.2 million from local businesses and organizations and their employees during its annual campaign, an increase of 4.4 percent over last year’s campaign of $5.9 million.
United Way of Pioneer Valley officials announced the 2009 campaign results during a victory celebration recently at The Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke.
Campaign staff credited this year’s success to the 1,784 volunteers who embraced the vision of making the Pioneer Valley community stronger and more united by supporting its neighbors.
“We know of so many volunteers who took the time to visit every employee in their office, department or work center,” said Martha Lockett, UWPV’s director of workplace campaigns. “Others came up with creative ways to encourage peers to support the campaign. The selfless spirit of our campaign coordinators is admirable.”
Given the economic downturn, last year’s campaign was especially challenging. United Way’s board of directors and staff knew that to be successful the campaign would have to focus on participation rather than monetary goals, said Ron Copes, the UWPV’s interim vice president for Resource Development.
The campaign was also flexible in allowing companies to extend workplace campaigns in support of their business needs, said Copes, who together with Lockett, led a team of 10 campaign managers, associates and loaned executives.
Organizations came through and exceeded UWPV’s expectations.
“The support we received makes a powerful statement about the Pioneer Valley’s commitment to the community,” said Copes.
More than 370 Pioneer Valley businesses participated in campaigns this year.
Jack Ferriter, attorney with Ferriter & Ferriter LLC in Holyoke, was United Way’s community volunteer campaign chair. This year’s campaign success was extra meaningful given the generosity of contributors during the current economic downturn, Ferriter said.
“It means that people in western Massachusetts have once again proven that lean times do not have to be mean times,” said Ferriter. “Despite facing difficult circumstances themselves, this region’s residents and businesses generously opened their hearts to help their neighbors.”
Giving to communities continues to be important to the United Way, said Dora D. Robinson, UWPV president and CEO.
“Give. Advocate. Volunteer. These are the key components needed to successfully change communities,” said Robinson. “We are grateful to all of our partners for their role in support of our mission.”
This year, United Way is implementing an action plan that will address the greatest needs in the community, particularly those facing youth and families, said Robinson.
“There’s momentum building from this year’s campaign here at United Way — we saw it happening during the campaign, and it continues to grow — and we don’t want to lose that drive and commitment,” said Robinson. “We assure you that all the hard work that made the 2009 campaign such a success is put to the best use in helping our communities here in the Pioneer Valley and to make 2010 an even greater success.”
New members of United Way’s Board of Directors were also elected at the annual meeting. They are Thomas R. Creed of Berkshire Bank; Russell F. Denver of Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield; George L. Evans Jr., of Hampden Bank; Helen R. Caulton-Harris of City of Springfield; Maura Geary of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County; Oscar E. Ramos of Ramos Accounting and Tax Services; and Michael Weekes of the Massachusetts Providers Council.
The 2010 UWPV Board Officers are: Kevin C. Maynard, esquire, Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP; Kathryn S. Dube of TD Banknorth; Brian C. Smith of Bank of Western Massachusetts; and Michael B. Katz, esquire, Bacon Wilson PC.
2010 COMMUNITY
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Several volunteers and organizations earned 2010 Community Excellence Awards during the annual meeting.
Honorees were announced in the following categories:
– Mr. York Mayo received the Spirit of Caring Award. The award recognizes an individual in the community who has demonstrated uncommon leadership and compassion while improving the community. Mr. Mayo has led numerous charitable endeavors, from the Greater Springfield Habitat of Humanity to Goodwill Industries to Girls Inc., of Holyoke. He is the chairperson for Restore Home Improvement and is the CEO and president of the Roger L. Putnam Technical Fund and member of the board of directors of the Roger L. Putnam Pilot School.
– United Bank received the Champions of Hope Award. The award recognizes a local corporation or business that values and nurtures community relationships and is a catalyst for positive change in our community.
– YMCA of Greater Springfield received the Kevin Hamel Community Building Award. The award, named in honor and memory of Kevin Hamel, the former executive director of the Valley Opportunity Council, honors a nonprofit organization for effective community partnerships.
– Mr. Manny Andrade of the Bank of Western Massachusetts received the Volunteer of the Year Award. The award honors a community volunteer who strongly advocates for United Way programs and advanced the United Way mission.
– Mr. Kevin O’Hare of Holyoke Medical Center received the Employee Coordinator of the Year Award. O’Hare was honored as the top volunteer coordinator with the best workplace campaign practices and workplace participation.
– “All-Star” Team Awards were given to MassMutual Financial Group, Baystate Health, and Friendly Ice Cream Corporation for significant corporate contributions to United Way.
2009 CAMPAIGN
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
United Way honored the following businesses and organizations in the following categories for earning the distinction of having the highest overall campaign performance:
Gold Medal Winners (Highest Level of Participation)
– Major Firms: Hasbro Games
– Business and Industry: United Bank
– Small Business: Excel Dryer, Inc.
– National Corporate Leader: Stop and Shop
– Higher Education: Mount Holyoke College
– Public School: Holyoke Public Schools
– Government: Holyoke Gas & Electric
– Social Services: Behavioral Health Network, Inc.
– Professional: Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP
– Out of Area Firms: Hamilton Sunstrand, I.A.M. Local 743
Silver Medal Winners (Second Highest Level of Participation)
– Major Firms: PeoplesBank
– Business & Industry: Health New England, Inc.
– Small Business: Plastic Packaging, Inc.
– National Corporate Leader: C&S Wholesale
– Higher Education: Springfield College
– Public School: Springfield Public Schools
– Government: City of Holyoke
– Social Services: Jewish Geriatric Services, Inc.
– Professional: Meyers Brothers Kalica, PC
– Out of Area Firms: Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Bronze Medal Winners (Third Highest Level of Participation)
– Major Firms: TD Banknorth
– Business & Industry: Williams Distributing Corp.
– Small Business: Dufault, Vann & Company, Inc.
– National Corporate Leader: Costco Wholesale, Inc.
– Higher Education: Western New England College
– Public School: Westfield Public Schools
– Government: City of Springfield
– Social Services: Loomis Communities
– Professional:Bacon Wilson PC
Companies and organizations achieving 100 percent participation from employees:
– American Red Cross of Greater Springfield
– Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County
– Cambridge Credit Counseling
– Conrad Fafard Inc.
– Freedom Credit Union
– Goss & McLain Insurance Agency
– Hendel & Collins, Attorneys at Law
– Ineos Melamines
– Marox Corporation
– Monarch Life Insurance Co.
– Monson Savings Bank
– South End Community Center
– Springfield Vietnamese – American Civic Association