Bowling Green, Kentucky (January 19, 2012) – More than 200 Southern Kentucky residents joined United Way of Southern Kentucky (UWSK) for the annual Live United Awards Reception and Annual Meeting on Thursday, January 19th at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bowling Green.
The reception celebrated the triumphs of companies who excelled in furthering the mission of United Way of Southern Kentucky. The awards structure was centralized around the call to action issued by United Way of Southern Kentucky for those in our community to LIVE UNITED through giving, advocating, and volunteering. More than 30 awards were presented to organizations from Allen, Barren, Logan, Simpson and Warren counties.
UWSK presented the following awards to organizations for their support:
GIVE AWARDS
(NOTE: Basic criteria for all “give” awards is that the organization must have the same or increased giving versus the prior year)
Greatest Giving Increases (employee and corporate giving combined)
Increase of $10,000 and up
Warren County Schools
Western Kentucky University
Top Givers (employee and corporate giving combined)
Top Five givers with same or increased campaign dollars
Trace Die Cast
U. S. Bank – area wide
Warren County Schools
Warren RECC
Western Kentucky University
Leadership Investment Awards (employee giving)
Most leadership dollars from organizations employing:
Less than 100
BKD LLP
100 - 249
Warren RECC
More than 250
U. S. Bank – area wide
New Campaign Partner of the Year
Highest giving, per capita and participation
First Southern National Bank, Bowling Green
Outstanding Nonprofit Agency Campaign
Highest giving, per capita, participation and increases (giving, per capita, participation)
Bowling Green- Warren County Community Education
Give United Award (campaign of the year)
Highest giving, per capita, participation and increase from organizations employing:
Less than 100
BKD LLP
100-249
Warren RECC
250+
Trace Die Cast
ADVOCATE AWARDS
Advocate United Award
Organization that has most promoted United Way on numerous levels in support of the Give, Advocate, Volunteer mission
WBKO
VOLUNTEER AWARDS
Volunteer Investment Awards
Top Organizations with the largest % of employees volunteering in multiple United Way functions (allocations, campaign, marketing, board of directors)
BB&T – Bowling Green
BB&T - Russellville
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities
South Central Bank – Bowling Green
U. S. Bank – Area-wide
Outstanding Board of Directors Volunteer
Non executive committee member; Involved in multiple United Way activities/committees
Scott Taylor
Volunteer United Award
Organization that embodies United Way’s volunteering mission through participation in multiple United Way functions and United Way critical service areas
U. S. Bank – area wide
SPIRIT UNITED AWARD
Organization that embodies the Live United spirit through year round support and enthusiasm for United Way
Fruit of the Loom
Honorable Mentions:
JM Smucker Company
Western Kentucky University
Finalists for the premier award for the year, the LIVE UNITED Award, were previously announced. This award was presented to the company that exemplifies United Way’s core Give, Advocate and Volunteer goals through outstanding campaign support including increased giving, high participation and per capita, advocating internally and externally on behalf of United Way and its critical service areas throughout the year, and exceptional volunteer participation from a large base of employees. The top 3 finalists for the LIVE UNITED Award included: Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU), Warren County Public Schools (WCPS), and Western Kentucky University (WKU).
Following the recognition of the three finalists, the Live United Award was presented to:
Warren County Public Schools (WCPS)
Campaign totals for 2011 were also announced. In Allen County, $132,281 was raised. Contributions in Barren County were $153,068. Logan County residents contributed $224,452. Simpson County contributions were $27,254. And, $1,115,859 was raised in Warren County, resulting in a GRAND TOTAL of $1,652,914 being raised for Southern Kentucky friends and neighbors in need. These dollars will translate into providing food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, safe place to live for the abused and battered and chance for a successful and productive lives for our communities children. Examples of services that were provided in 2011 include:
· More than 5,000 calls to the domestic violence crisis line
· 42,800 meals served to hungry individuals in Salvation Army’s soup kitchen
· 627 boys and girls had a safe and nurturing place to go through the Boys and Girls Club for after school and summer enrichment activities
· $1,370,705 in child support was established for children in low-income, single parent families
Also recognized was United Way’s continued work to directly impact issues and problems in the community in 2011:
· 58,078 nonperishable food items collected by almost 600 volunteers in United Way’s Feed the Need Regional Food Drive
· 931 volunteers joined nonprofit agencies in our area to complete 114 projects in United Way’s annual Day of Caring
· Low income children continued to be impacted through reading and book distribution programs in our Invest in Success program
Thanks to the generosity of people in Allen, Barren, Logan, Simpson, and Warren Counties, United Way hopes to expand on the 53,342 services that were provided to residents of Southern Kentucky moving forward in 2012.
United Way of Southern Kentucky (UWSK) is a local, independent, non-profit organization that works to identify and address the issues that matter most, change conditions and improve lives in our community. United Way is focused on critical issues including poverty, literacy, personal abuse, substance abuse, youth development, senior services, and physical and developmental disabilities. Incorporated as a charitable non-profit entity in 1956, UWSK has long served a major role in the community by bringing people together to create opportunities that make a measurable difference in the quality of life for people where they live and work. The mission of United Way of Southern Kentucky is the leader in bringing together the resources to build a stronger, more caring community.
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