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United Way thanks community for big campaign outpouring

ttendees at the annual United Way Thank You Celebration held Wednesday, March 14, at Huntington First Church of the Nazarene hold up the final total of funds collected in the 2017 campaign. Pictured (from left) are Teresa Wright, Tricia Miller, Mary Lou Snyder, Heath Pinkerton, Casse Shiflett, Jessi Brown, Nick Stanley and Nancy Fecher. Campaign Chair Adam Fusselman said the amount reflects 99 percent of reaching the goal of $578,000.
ttendees at the annual United Way Thank You Celebration held Wednesday, March 14, at Huntington First Church of the Nazarene hold up the final total of funds collected in the 2017 campaign. Pictured (from left) are Teresa Wright, Tricia Miller, Mary Lou Snyder, Heath Pinkerton, Casse Shiflett, Jessi Brown, Nick Stanley and Nancy Fecher. Campaign Chair Adam Fusselman said the amount reflects 99 percent of reaching the goal of $578,000. Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Adam Fusselman was happy with the amount raised in the 2017 United Way Campaign, but he worked the crowd to make the total even better.

The $575,000 raised was only $3,000 shy of United Way’s goal of $578,000, reaching 99 percent of that goal, Fusselman, the 2017 campaign chair, told attendees at the agency’s annual thank you celebration, held Wednesday, March 14, at Huntington First Church of the Nazarene.

“We have an unbelievable community to be able to raise that dollar figure, and we’re pretty confident that we’ll be able to close up that 1 percent as the months continue on,” he said. “We need another $3,000 to reach that $578,000 goal, so if someone has a couple thousand dollars in your pocket, there’s a bucket back there and you can drop it in there!”

United Way’s funded partners, who also provided the luncheon, include the American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys & Girls Club, Cancer Services, Huntington County Literacy Coalition, Huntington County Council on Aging, Huntington House, Love In the Name of Christ, McKenzie’s Hope, Path-finder Services Inc./Kids Kampus, Place of Grace, St. Peter’s First Community-Homework Help, Youth Services Bureau and Parkview Huntington Family YMCA.

Fusselman said more than 300 volunteers assisted United Way in raising the cash, which funds the local partner agencies in providing support to individuals and families in education, financial stability and health. Throughout the community there were 103 corporate givers, Fusselman added.
2017 Board Chairman Todd Latta noted that 98.6 percent of the dollars raised stays in Huntington County.

Latta also praised the United Way staff, made up of Kyle Metzger, CEO and president; Joy Koch, donor development coordinator; Diane Brumbaugh, office and events administrator; and Bethany Buzzard, marketing and event coordinator.

“We couldn’t do what we do without these people. If you work in non-profit you know it’s hard work and a lot of hours. The rewards come in the way of handshakes and good feelings and not enough in compensation, so you really have to be a person who thrives on that.”

 Metzger was thrilled with the large attendance at the luncheon, saying he has learned a great deal in the last 10 months as United Way’s new head.

“Here at the United Way, impact is our product; impact is our business, and you, our donors and our stakeholders are our customers,” he said. “We promise you a great product with our impact – a changed community, an ear to the ground, listening and responding to the needs of the community.”

In keeping with the spirit of gratitude, several awards were also presented during the luncheon, including the 2017 Ray Vanderspool Volunteer of the Year Award. This year, that award went to Dr. Ron and Judy Frischman.

Judy Frischman is the widow of Ray Vanderspool. She and her husband Ron Frischman were in Florida and were unable to attend, but Judy’s children, Jeanette Snyder, Mike Vanderspool and Amy Kenseth, accepted the award, named for their late father, on the couple’s behalf.

“There are so many people in Huntington county so deserving of being recognized for their giving spirit and volunteerism,” Koch read, from a letter received from the Frischmans. “We are proud to be a part of a community that cares for its citizens whenever they are in need, or need help. We have seen first-hand what our United Way does in Huntington County, and we believe in supporting its good deeds for as long as we are able.”

Koch added the Frischmans have helped for many years with the small business and professional campaign, going out into the community to share about the work of the United Way, and encouraging those businesses to participate. They have also sat on several community boards and committees and volunteered their time with area charitable agencies.

Another award, the 2017 Bob Smith Campaign Award, was presented to Bendix employees Cindy Burns and Marva Miller. Casse Shiflett, the late Smith’s granddaughter, presented the award.

Burns headed up the Bendix United Way campaign for 13 years and Miller has been involved for seven years.

“The caring and love that these two show to everyone they meet has overflowed in how they run the Bendix United Way campaign,” Koch said. “Cindy and Marva do the work effortlessly and we do not see all the hard work that these two do behind the scenes, but we all reap the benefits of their work.”

Campaign Chair Awards were presented this year to Pathfinder Services Inc. and Parkview Huntington Hospital. The awards are given each year to a person or group of people who have been innovative in furthering the work of United Way in Huntington County. The awardees are selected by the campaign chair to recognize those who have gone above and beyond to make the campaign a success.

Likewise, Lancaster Elementary School and Northwest Elementary School each received Star Performer awards.

“Our Star Performers took strides to significantly increase donors and/or overall giving,” Fusselman said. “Some held unique special events that helped raise extra dollars toward overall company giving.”

Concluding the luncheon, Fusselman announced the 2018 campaign chair team, the Stanley family. Brent and Darlene Stanley, and their children, Nick Stanley and Megan Reckelhoff, own JJ’s (formerly Johnson Junction) convenience stores in Huntington, Decatur and Berne. They also own and operate JJ Java, JJ’s Washroom and JJ’s Pit Stop.

“JJ’s philosophy is to ‘support the communities that support us,’” Fusselman said. “Therefore, every member of the family is highly involved in the community. Their service includes everything from the Parkview Huntington Hospital Board, the Huntington University Foundation Board, Junior Achievement Board and the Bippus Volunteer Fire Department, just to name a few.”

Nick Stanley, speaking on behalf of his family, said they appreciate the opportunity to support the Huntington County community through United Way.
“Our family is passionate about Huntington, and excited to lead the 2018 campaign, which will raise funds to improve our community and support the people that live, work and raise their families here,” he said.

Reckelhoff added the Stanley family will seek out “heroes in the community.”

“Our heroes are you guys,” she said. “They are the ordinary people that have achieved extraordinary results supporting the 2017 campaign … We invite you to join us as we dream big dreams for Huntington, and help those that live, work and play here to improve their lives through United Way’s funding and their programs.”

The official 2018 campaign kickoff is scheduled for sometime in July.