United Way 2009 Campaign: Dane County Residents Respond to Challenging Year

November 19, 2009

Community to tackle critical issues by advancing Agenda for Change

United Way of Dane County announced that local residents and organizations contributed a projected $16,661,186 to address the immediate needs of our community and continue to advance the critical issues in the community's Agenda for Change. In this challenging economic year, United Way was able to meet the goal set back in August of $16.65 million.

"This year I met with hundreds of people who made a commitment to do whatever they could to support this campaign. People in Dane County want to see problems being solved," stated Mike Victorson, 2009 Campaign Chair and President and CEO, M3 Insurance. "Donors realize that contributing to United Way helps immediate needs, like increasing our food supply, and they also see the long-term work being done to give students the skills they need to be successful in school and in their first jobs. Our donors will see their dollars at work in the real results we expect every year, and they will see progress in every area of the Agenda for Change."

Over 800 supporters were in attendance to hear the total community contribution. The event also included the announcements of several awards, achieved by organizations that employed creative, thoughtful methods to generate campaign results.

For the second year United Way of Dane County announced the winner of the Harley-Davidson Campaign Sweepstakes. Generous sponsors M3 Insurance; NSI, a Division of West Bend Insurance; and WPS Health Insurance teamed up to sponsor this year's United Way of Dane County Harley Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes has once again helped increase campaign participation and financial support for the community's Agenda for Change.

The winner of the 2010 Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycle, Ann Schuetz from CUNA Mutual Group, was presented with her new motorcycle at the event.

Contributions to the 2008 United Way campaign created these results in 2009:

A decrease in homelessness for families with children:

Housing First, intensive case management for over 50 families with children

Eviction prevention services for over 5000 individuals in Dane County

Elimination of achievement gaps in Sun Prairie elementary and middle schools:

Over 100 Schools of Hope tutors helped 300 students by eliminating racial achievement gaps in reading and math at several schools in Sun Prairie

Reading skills influence overall learning; math skills influence critical thinking

Early identification of behavioral health issues in youth:

Over 3000 elementary and middle school students were screened in Madison Metropolitan School District and many received preventative treatment to address behavioral and mental health problems

Addressing these issues early will prevent children from disconnecting from school

"Thanks to the community's support of United Way last year, caregivers in our community helped thousands of seniors live independently in their homes, we provided children with the skills they need to be prepared for kindergarten, and we made sure that thousands of students throughout Dane County are successful in school," said Tom Zimbrick, President of Zimbrick Inc. and 2009 United Way Board Chair. "We thank everyone who gives to United Way and enables this great work to continue."

"The results from this year's campaign will help continue our important work in 2010," stated Lau Christensen, Chairman, Christensen Associates and 2009 Vision Council Chair. "We will be able to make more progress on all the Agenda for Change goals, like reducing homelessness among families with children by expanding Housing First. We can also continue to address the immediate needs of this community and prevent further problems by expanding eviction prevention services and increasing the surplus food supply in Dane County."

The projected total includes $12,753,388 in collected pledges, as well as dollars that are expected to be pledged through public and private organization campaigns that are still underway and corporate and individual year-end gifts. Several public sector campaigns will run into the first quarter of 2010 and last year contributed about $1.78 million. "Public sector campaigns are underway and show great promise. These are a key to the United Way campaign and we look forward to more people joining us and creating the greatest impact possible in Dane County," Victorson stated. Those who have not yet made a donation are encouraged to consider making a gift, since contributions of any size have an impact on critical local issues.

Top Award Winners

Community Impact Award - Total Employee and Corporate Giving