The United Way of Portage County campaign has reached the halfway point with 50.6 percent of the campaign goal in pledges and donations.
Sentry Insurance completed its campaign, topping the $400,000 mark. Employees increased giving by 15 percent, pledging $308,396. With the corporate gift, donations total $426,062, or 27.5 percent of the overall campaign goal of $1,547,000.
"It's remarkable. I'm almost speechless," said Campaign Chair Chuck Nason. "They have done so well every year. This year, they have taken our campaign to a new level. We are incredibly grateful."
Delta Dental Plan of Wisconsin employees gave four times as much to United Way as they did a year ago, pledging $24,117. With the company match of $25,700, Delta Dental gave a total of $50,000, tripling its 1999 gift.
President and CEO Dennis Brown noted that his employees already volunteer to deliver Meals on Wheels to the homebound, participate in blood drives and sponsor holiday baskets for low-income families. "Over time, they've created a reputation in the community as a caring, giving employee group. With the many things they already do in the community, I felt comfortable setting a goal of 100 percent participation."
In 1999, 42 percent of employees participated in the campaign. That rate rose significantly this fall when 101 of 104 employees gave to United Way. "We just got an overwhelming response," said Brown, who is vice chair of the 2000 United Way of Portage County campaign.
The company offered several prizes as incentives for different giving levels, including custom-made golf clubs, housecleaning services, extra vacation days, gift certificates for groceries and dinners and Packer tickets. "The prize drawings were fun, but I think we would have had the same response without the prizes because people were emotionally involved in the campaign. They came away with a better understanding of the how many people at all ages and predicaments are served by United Way," Brown said.
Several businesses reported significant increases in their campaigns this week. At McCain Foods, employee gifts rose almost fourfold to $12,942. Giving at Basic American Foods totaled $17,456 and at Automatan, $1,530, both 34 percent increases.
Bank One had 100 percent participation, with employees giving $4,780, or 7 percent more than last year.
The Portage County Department on Aging had 97 percent participation and offered several creative incentives. Pledges totaled $3,387, a 27 percent increase from 1999.
Other Portage County departments reporting results this week are Health and Human Services with $5,535 in pledges, an 8 percent increase. Portage County Library staff gave $1,085.
Organizations reporting double digit increases include CAP Services with $7,563 and Clifton Gunderson with $1,886, both 11 percent increases; and Ellis Stone with $3,016, up 13 percent.
Several Stevens Point Area schools completed their campaigns this week. Ben Franklin Junior High School staff gave $4,076, an 11 percent increase. McDill School employees increased giving by 15 percent to $2,212. Roosevelt School gave 10 percent more this year with $1,171. Bliss Educational Services Center staff gave $2,050, while Washington School gave $1,585.
Employee gifts nearly doubled at Pineries Bank, where gifts totaled $562 and at Shippy Shoes with $407.
Organizations running campaigns have until Friday afternoon to submit entries for the first of three prize packages offered by United Way of Portage County this fall. At 5 p.m. Oct. 27, one donor will be chosen to win two tickets to Packer games on Nov. 19 and Dec. 24 in Green Bay.
Valued at $500, the tickets were donated by Delta Dental Plan of Wisconsin. Also included are passes to the Packer Hall of Fame, courtesy of WSPT.
Prize drawings will also be held Nov. 3 and 10. Contributors receive one entry in the drawing for each $10 donated to the United Way campaign, up to 10 entries.
To make a contribution and enter the prize drawing, or for more information, please call United Way of Portage County at 341-6740.