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United Way Honors Volunteers, Elects Leaders at Annual Meeting (Mar 20, 2008)

A new team of campaign leaders and board members took the helm of United Way of Delaware County on March 20 at the organization's 2008 annual meeting. Approximately 70 local volunteers attended the luncheon event at Brookshire Banquet Center, where several United Way volunteers were honored for exemplary contributions to community service.

Steve Garlock, president, Grady Memorial Hospital - OhioHealth, was elected board chair, succeeding Walt Abood, national account manager for Verizon Wireless. David Arango, regional vice president, Nationwide Insurance, will serve as treasurer.

Abood was re-elected to a three-year term expiring at the 2011 annual meeting, along with Kay Adkins, provost of Columbus State Community College.

Four trustees who are retiring from the board were recognized for their service. They include John Hoffman of Worthington Cylinders; Laura Frum of Ohio Statewide Development Corp., retiring board treasurer; Barbara Pappas of The Ohio State University, retiring board secretary; and Carrie Faries, retiring chair of the Community Impact Council.

Connie Argus, former director of associate programs at Nationwide, received the 14th annual Nancy Frankenberg Award, named in honor of the late community activist whose accomplishments included founding the local United Way.

Laura Frum, a senior loan officer for the Ohio Statewide Development Corp., was honored with United Way's Life Member Award for multiple volunteer contributions to United Way of Delaware County. Frum held leadership positions on the Allocations Committee, board of trustees and various task forces and committees over a ten-year period.

Mark Bergstedt, associate vice president of human resources for Nationwide, was recognized for his leadership as 2007 campaign chair, leading United Way of Delaware County to its most successful fundraising campaign to date. The campaign total, a 7 percent increase over the campaign goal, exceeded $3.4 million. Bergstedt headed a team of volunteers representing businesses and educational, professional and government sectors.

United Way President Katherine Kreuchauf introduced the “Live United” nationwide branding campaign to the group, unveiling a communitywide mission to act, give, advocate and volunteer to bolster the health of the community and positively influence the quality of life. “Live United” materials soon will be seen in nationwide print and broadcast media.

United Way officials also recognized "Pacesetter" companies who led the annual campaign with early, exemplary results from employee workplace pledges and generous corporation contributions. Earning honors as "Pacesetters" were Delaware County Bank & Trust, American Family Insurance, the Floyd Browne Group, Oberfield’s and WHITTMANHART.

“Workplace Champion” awards were made to employees of local firms who made special efforts to coordinate their workplace United Way campaigns and make them successful. Honored as “Rookies of the Year” were Laura Trejo of Costco and Sarah O’Reilly of AHP. The “10 Steps to Success Award” was presented to Melissa Clouse of Emerson Liebert Network Power. The award for “Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year” recognized the efforts of Kevin May of Target Corp. Becky Dinovo of Delaware County Bank was honored with the “Employee Campaign Coordinator Have a Heart Award.” An award for the “Most Improved Campaign” went to Craig Riege and Aaron Portnoy of American Family Insurance.

Five companies received awards for top corporate giving amounts. They included Greif Inc.; Bry-Air Inc.; Liebert Power and Cooling; V&P Hydraulic Products; and AHP. Honored for the highest levels of employee per capita giving were Greif Inc.; Bry-Air Inc.; V & P Hydraulic Products; Delaware County Bank & Trust Co. and the Floyd Browne Group.

Contributions to United Way from these and other companies support more than 40 programs at 24 local human service agencies funded by United Way.

United Way of Delaware County’s funding partners include: Action for Children; The American Red Cross; The Arthritis Foundation; Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Central Ohio; Boy Scouts of America, Simon Kenton Council; Central Ohio Mental Health Center; Community Action Organization of Delaware, Madison & Union Counties; the Council for Older Adults – Home-Delivered Meals Program; Delaware General Health District; Delaware Speech and Hearing Center; Friends of Delaware County Court Appointed Special Advocates; Girl Scouts, Seal of Ohio Council; Goodwill Industries; HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow Counties; Heritage Day Health Center; Liberty Community Center; The Legal Aid Society; Marion Shelter Board; People in Need; Recovery & Prevention Resources of Delaware and Morrow Counties; Salvation Army Transitional Housing Program; Senior Services for Independent Living; and Turning Point.

For more information, call (740) 369-9618 or visit the United Way Web site at www.liveuniteddelawarecounty.org.