Community unites to exceed goal

COLUMBUS -- The community came together to “Live United” to not only reach, but exceed the goal for the 2008 Columbus Area United Way campaign.

A community celebration was held Tuesday at Elks Country Club, during which the total of this year’s campaign was announced. The $708,000 goal was surpassed by more than $50,000. The total came to $765,732.

Drive chairman Jim Goulet said while the total is great, the important thing to remember is the number of people who will receive assistance because of the funds raised.

Thousands of people get assistance each year through the 19 service agencies supported by the United Way.

The money raised in the campaign goes toward helping those agencies.

Goulet noted specifically the Pacesetters, the top giving companies to the campaign, to why the goal was met.

“BD Medical really came up with a big increase this year. That kicked off the whole Pacesetter campaign,” Goulet said.

BD, which had a 45.6 percent increase over what it raised last year, was one of several companies that upped it giving. Other Pacesetter companies included ADM Corn Processors, Behlen, Camaco LLC, Cargill Meat Solutions, Carneco Foods, Columbus Community Hospital, Columbus Public Schools, The Columbus Telegram, EGS, First National Bank, Flexcon, Nebraska Public Power District, Orion and Vishay.

The Pacesetters raised 70 percent of the campaign goal. Of the 355 businesses that gave, 141 increased what they previously contributed the year before.

Overall, the campaign had 230 volunteers, including John Mills, who was named the Outstanding Volunteer of the Campaign. Mills has volunteered with the United Way for several years and has spent the last two years as a division chairman.

Goulet said the community has been amazing throughout the campaign and that the theme of “Live United” really reflected on Columbus.

“This year, the theme caught up with the city,” he said.

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

The United Way also supports the free book program for children called Imagination Library and the 211 program.

The 2009 campaign will be headed by Matt Gotschall, and the assistant drive chairman will be Clark Lehr.