Every year we recognize companies and people who are doing extraordinary things for United Way of Greater McHenry County! This year we visited each award winner/company and honored those listed below for their dedication and support! Check out the posts where we announced the awards and featured pictures on our Facebook Page!
2020-2021 Campaign Awards
George Zimmermann – True Value | Paul Schipp Volunteer of the Year Award
This award recognizes an outstanding United Way volunteer who exemplifies a high level of commitment, integrity and community service that Paul displayed. Our volunteer of the year is someone who has a heart for serving the community, is driven by results and believes story telling is key to inspiring others to Give Where They Live! George helped grow his campaign this year with aiming high for employee contributions and inspired them to give in a new, creative way with different fundraisers.
TC Industries, Inc. | Milestone Campaign Award
This award is given to companies who reach $50,000 in total contributions. United Way is proud to recognize TC Industries, Inc, a leader in this category for years, for raising $78,908! Marilyn Chacon and her team work hard each year to give back to the community and engage their employees to participate with United Way. We are so thankful to have her as a dedicated Employee Campaign Manager for this company and for her willingness to try new things to raise more money.
ComEd | Milestone Campaign Award
Here is another Milestone winner is a company who is doing great things locally. This campaign team has an unparalleled passion for raising money for nonprofits and United Way is lucky to be one of those. This year they worked really hard to raise just over $66,900 to give back to our United Way of Greater McHenry County.
Illinois Tool Works | Milestone Campaign Award
The third Milestone Award goes to ITW – Illinois Tool Works, who raised over $50,000 this year! Each year this company exceeds our expectations and we are so thankful. Their employees choose to “give where they live”, a motto of our United Way. Their products and solutions are at work all over the world and we are so happy they have chosen to work with us!
True Value | Milestone Campaign Award
Here is another Milestone winner that is made up of three amazing divisions: True Value Central Ship, True Value Distribution and True Value Manufacturing. Collectively, these teams worked together to raise $73,500 for our United Way! All of their staff and team members are passionate about serving and helping the community and we are grateful for their dedication!
Werner Co. | Innovative Campaign Award
The Innovative Campaign Award is presented to companies who are boosting employee participation by using their creativity and introducing special events or fundraisers that raise awareness and additional funds for our organization! Congratulations to Werner Co./Knaack for organizing and hosting a special t-shirt fundraiser that brought in an additional $2,900 for our United Way!
First National Bank of Omaha FNBO | The Breakthrough Campaign Award
This award is presented to companies who are new to the annual campaign and experienced a successful first year introduction OR existing companies who have significantly elevated their participation through a “re-introduction”. The FNBO team upped their game this year, worked hard and raised just over $11,500 – a $5,000+ increase over last year!
True Value (Central Ship, Manufacturing & Distribution) | The Breakthrough Campaign Award
This award is presented to this existing company who has significantly elevated their participation this campaign season The combined teams from True Value upped their game this year, worked hard and raised just over $73,500 – a $13,000+ increase over last year!
Bob Berry| The Leadership Legacy Award
Congratulations to Bob of TC Industries! This award goes to Bob, who has been involved with our United Way of Greater McHenry County for many, many years and is always supporting and championing the mission and value of our organization. Bob is a Pillars Leadership Giver adn has continuously looked for ways to leave a legacy while encouraging his own employees, company, network and friends to give back.
Kelsey Adams, K-Adams Foto | Social Buzz Award
This award is presented to those using their creativity and using social media channels to engage community members and increase awareness of how United Way is making an impact in the community! We were honored to recognize Kelsey Adams for her enthusiasm to jump online and use her company and her name in association with our United Way. For not only our Easter Spring Fling event where she created stories and content and live video, but she did her own personal fundraisers in conjunction with other McHenry County businesses. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication, Kelsey!
Harvard Community School District 50 | The Blackboard Award
This award is presented to a school district in McHenry County that has the highest average donation per employee from their United Way campaign. Congrats to the Harvard Hornets for the third year in a row, for raising over $13,825!
First Midwest Bank | Community Impact Award
This award is presented to companies who have made a significant contribution to our community through United Way and therefore impacts McHenry County on a new level. First Midwest Bank not only supported our United Way as a sponsor this year, but stepped up in a big way during the pandemic! They asked what they could do with the McHenry County COVID-19 Response Fund and donated $50,000 to give back to the community!
Family Ties Estate Sales | Community Impact Award
This award is presented to companies who have made a significant contribution to our community through United Way and therefore impacts McHenry County on a new level. Scott & DeAnn of Family Ties were excite and willing to partner with us and Corporate Disk Company to help facilitate selling products for a donation to our United Way! Their hard work has resulted in over $10,000 in donations!
The Olea Family | Trailblazer Award
This award is presented to an individual or group who has truly stepped up within our county and helped raise the awareness of our United Way at a whole new level. This family is a stand-out, trailblazer and gives encouragement and support to our staff and the community! The Olea’s helped blaze a trail as a family that could use their resources for good and encourage others to give back. They came up with a Grinch At Your Door idea during the holidays, making stops to neighborhoods and houses to drop off treats, say hello and collect a donation!
Victoria Larson | McHenry County Spotlight Award
This award is presented to an individual who is a mover and a shaker and stands out above the rest. Congrats to Vicki Larson of Harvard Community Unit School District 50! She goes above and beyond to help raise funds and awareness and exemplifies creativity, leading by example and is a role model for others in the community! She worked with our agency partners to help increase her school district’s donations by telling compelling stories in a fresh, unique way!
