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United Way exceeds goal

Campaign raises $1.74 million

The United Way of Portage County campaign has exceeded its goal. Pledges and donations totaling $1,747,352 have been received, surpassing the goal of $1,683,000.

"Ecstatic," is how Campaign Chair Dennis Brown described the feeling of meeting the goal.

The campaign was launched on Sept. 11 - a day of national disaster that would continue to be in the shadow of fund-raising efforts for the next 12 weeks. Coupled with a soft economy and several corporate mergers and buyouts locally, he said, "there were lots of reasons for concern going into this campaign. To end up with this result is just amazing.

"Time and again in this community, people have come together in a meaningful way and given in excess of what we had hoped. We are grateful and very pleased," said Brown, president and CEO of Delta Dental Plan of Wisconsin.
Sentry Insurance Foundation donated $121,000 this week, providing an 11th hour boost to the campaign. Combined with employee donations, the company committed a remarkable $451,034, or 27 percent of the campaign goal. "This is terrific," Brown said.

At the campaign celebration Wednesday, Dec. 5, at SentryWorld, Dale Schuh, chairman and CEO of Sentry, said one issue facing Sentry this year in light of the Sept. 11 tragedy was how to maintain focus on the local community.

To do so, the Sentry Foundation agreed to provide matching funds to the Sept. 11 Fund for every dollar additional raised for the United Way. "We did not want to divert funds from local needs," he said, adding that Sentry employees gave an additional $41,000 this year, which the foundation matched to the Sept. 11 Fund.

Also completed campaigns this week were St. Michael's Hospital, which increased donations to $72,438. At Worzalla Publishing, corporate and employee pledges rose to a total of $70,215.

Canadian National/Wisconsin Central Ltd. donated $22,101. Pledges from the United Parcel Service totaled $14,364.Wisconsin Public Service increased donations to $8,835, and SPAN Publishing gave $7,080.

Led by a 68 percent increase in employee contributions, the Stevens Point Journal gave $9,383. Ameritech contributed $3,570. Dental Health Center increased donations to $3,120, and giving at Gamber-Johnson rose to $1,355. Worzella & Sons gave $1,500, a 36 percent increase. The Portage County Highway Department donated $1,095. AXA Financial/Equitable gave $500.

At the campaign celebration Brown provided several campaign highlights:
- Pacesetter campaign results produced increases in employee giving of 25 percent at ShopKo-Plover, 29 percent at Rice Medical Center and 67 percent at Donaldson Co.

- The 20 largest employers collectively contributed nearly 10 percent more than last year -- far exceeding the overall 2 percent goal. Donations increased by more than 20 percent at: Associated Bank, Delta Dental, Donaldson, McCain Foods, Neenah Papers, Noel Group, Rice Medical Center and Stora Enso's Stevens Point mill.

- Twenty-one businesses contributed for the first time this year, including Land's End and Elder-Beerman, two businesses new to Portage County.

- Twelve organizations more than doubled their contributions. Among them were Milwaukee Insurance (Unitrin), Premium Brands and Worth Co.

- Eighteen businesses increased giving by more than 50 percent. They include Golden County Foods, Community First Bank, NAPA Distribution Center and Noel Group.

Money raised in the United Way of Portage County campaign will be allocated to 32 programs offered by 20 local agencies in 2002.



	United Way exceeds goal Campaign raises $1.74 million The United Way of Portage County campaign has exceeded its goal. Pledges and donations totaling $1,747,352 have been received, surpassing the goal of $1,683,000. "Ecstatic," is how Campaign Chair Dennis Brown described the feeling of meeting the goal. The campaign was launched on Sept. 11 - a day of national disaster that would continue to be in the shadow of fund-raising efforts for the next 12 weeks. Coupled with a soft economy and several corporate mergers and buyouts locally, he said, "there were lots of reasons for concern going into this campaign. To end up with this result is just amazing. "Time and again in this community, people have come together in a meaningful way and given in excess of what we had hoped. We are grateful and very pleased," said Brown, president and CEO of Delta Dental Plan of Wisconsin. Sentry Insurance Foundation donated $121,000 this week, providing an 11th hour boost to the campaign. Combined with employee donations, the company committed a remarkable $451,034, or 27 percent of the campaign goal. "This is terrific," Brown said. At the campaign celebration Wednesday, Dec. 5, at SentryWorld, Dale Schuh, chairman and CEO of Sentry, said one issue facing Sentry this year in light of the Sept. 11 tragedy was how to maintain focus on the local community. To do so, the Sentry Foundation agreed to provide matching funds to the Sept. 11 Fund for every dollar additional raised for the United Way. "We did not want to divert funds from local needs," he said, adding that Sentry employees gave an additional $41,000 this year, which the foundation matched to the Sept. 11 Fund. Also completed campaigns this week were St. Michael's Hospital, which increased donations to $72,438. At Worzalla Publishing, corporate and employee pledges rose to a total of $70,215. Canadian National/Wisconsin Central Ltd. donated $22,101. Pledges from the United Parcel Service totaled $14,364.Wisconsin Public Service increased donations to $8,835, and SPAN Publishing gave $7,080. Led by a 68 percent increase in employee contributions, the Stevens Point Journal gave $9,383. Ameritech contributed $3,570. Dental Health Center increased donations to $3,120, and giving at Gamber-Johnson rose to $1,355. Worzella & Sons gave $1,500, a 36 percent increase. The Portage County Highway Department donated $1,095. AXA Financial/Equitable gave $500. At the campaign celebration Brown provided several campaign highlights: - Pacesetter campaign results produced increases in employee giving of 25 percent at ShopKo-Plover, 29 percent at Rice Medical Center and 67 percent at Donaldson Co. - The 20 largest employers collectively contributed nearly 10 percent more than last year -- far exceeding the overall 2 percent goal. Donations increased by more than 20 percent at: Associated Bank, Delta Dental, Donaldson, McCain Foods, Neenah Papers, Noel Group, Rice Medical Center and Stora Enso's Stevens Point mill. - Twenty-one businesses contributed for the first time this year, including Land's End and Elder-Beerman, two businesses new to Portage County. - Twelve organizations more than doubled their contributions. Among them were Milwaukee Insurance (Unitrin), Premium Brands and Worth Co. - Eighteen businesses increased giving by more than 50 percent. They include Golden County Foods, Community First Bank, NAPA Distribution Center and Noel Group. Money raised in the United Way of Portage County campaign will be allocated to 32 programs offered by 20 local agencies in 2002.