United Way drive soaring after launch

COLUMBUS - Thanks to the efforts of area companies and businesses, the 2007 Columbus Area United Way Campaign is off to a solid start.

A campaign kickoff was held Tuesday at Holiday Inn Express. Set to the theme of “Be a Hero ... Together We Can Make a Difference,” the campaign has a goal of $678,000, a 2 percent increase over last year's total.

A good portion of that goal - 67 percent - has already been tallied by the Pacesetter companies. The Pacesetters are the most giving companies in the campaign. The top 15 companies and the amounts they raised were announced at the kickoff.

John Cimpl, chairman of the campaign, said with the amount totaled by the Pacesetters, slightly more than $200,000 is left to be raised to meet the goal. Because of such a positive start, Cimpl said, even though it will be hard work, he is positive the goal will be reached.

“At this point, with the amount that we have left to raise, it looks like we will make that. But as a board member, we see needs we would like to address. We would like to raise more than that. We know there are needs in the community, and the 19 service agencies help meet those needs,” Cimpl said.

Of the money raised through the campaign, 99 percent stays in Columbus to help fund those service agencies. The other 1 percent goes toward the national United Way organization.

Cimpl said the more money raised throughout the campaign, which concludes with a community celebration Nov. 20, the more people will be helped through the agencies.

The agencies supported through the United Way are Arc of Platte County, Big Pals-Little Pals, Boy Scouts of America, CASA Connection, Catholic Charities, Center for Survivors, Columbus Area Transit, Connect Columbus (formerly Columbus Collaborative Team), Columbus Family YMCA, Emergency Relief, Platte County Food Pantry, Platte Valley Literacy, Prairie Hills Council Girl Scouts, Prairie Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Student Health, TeamMates, the United Service Organization and Youth for Christ Columbus.

Youth for Christ is a new addition. The organization provides services for youth age 11-19. The services include Campus Life, Campus Life JV, Teen Moms, Young Dads and Youth Guidance. More than 300 youth seek out services each week at Youth for Christ.

Aside from supporting those agencies, the United Way also backs the Imagination Library and the 211 program.

Imagination Library, which started in Columbus in 2004, offers children from birth to five years old the opportunity to receive free, hardback books in the mail each month. More than 1,000 children are signed up for the program.

The 211 program provides information to residents on human needs resources by dialing the telephone number 211. That program has been in place here since July 2005.

The Pacesetter companies and the amount of money that each raised are: Archer Daniel Midlands, $61,464; B-D Medical, $84,815; Behlen, $33,400; CAMACO, $17,605; Cargill Meat Solutions, $46,306; CARNECO Foods, $16,199; Columbus Community Hospital, $13,300; Columbus Public Schools, $23,178; Columbus Telegram, $6,436; EGS, $25,947; First National Bank, $18,084; FLEXcon, $17,560; NPPD, $43,745; Orion, $13,652; and Vishay, $32,294.

The Columbus Telegram, First National Bank and B-D Medical also donated $2,500 each to the Duck Race.

The Duck Race had a record setting year in the number of ducks adopted - more than 12,400 - and money raised - $45,000. B-D also was recognized as being the top seller in ducks this year.

Along with Cimpl, the 2007 campaign is headed by Steve Fremarek, assistant drive chairman, and Bob Blackman, Pacesetter chairman.

The campaign will continue to roll on with the help of the division chairs. Those people and the divisions they head are Anne Hall and Terry Millard, banks and investment division; Sharyle Sands, Dann Smith and Rick Cheloha, general business division; Joy Gilmore and Chris Nelson, industry division; Joe Steffensmeier and Joyce Napier, major retail division; Bob Lauterbach, non-profit/clergy division; Travis Tessendorf and Mary Sutton, professional division; Dan Pabian and Karin Rieger, public service division; Kathy Dreesen and Jason Bell, real estate and insurance division; Marlene Cimpl, residential division; John Mills, publicity division; Jodi Hefti, youth division; K.C. Belitz, Chuck Gonka and Whitey Walgren, bridgebuilder division; and Kelley Schaecher and Cyndi Jarecke, duck river run.

A goal Cimpl said he has to help assure that the grand total for the campaign is reached is by getting pledge cards out in the community. One way they are going about doing that is through a special projects group.

That group plans to meet with 12 area companies Cimpl said have not allowed United Way presentations to be done there in the past. If those companies get involved in the campaign, hopefully the goal will be more easily attainable.

“If we can get cards out to everyone in the community, we will be successful,” Cimpl said.