Campaign co-chairs Chris and Dina Ostrander announced Tuesday that the United Way’s 2017 campaign has raised $3,325,159. It was also shared that Don and Carrie Templin, who were already in their final year of a five-year annual $35,000 commitment (for a total of $175,000), have determined that they will contribute an additional $500,000 to the Halt Hunger initiative. Their gift will spread over the next five years beginning in 2018. The announcements were made during United Way’s campaign wrap up event at The Anvil.
“We are extremely appreciative of every single pledge – from the $1 a week donor who gives through their workplace campaign, to the donors at the Gaslight level of $750 or more. Every donation of every size is to be celebrated. Each gift is critical to continuing the work of the United Way in this community. It is only through the generosity of all of our donors that we are able to improve lives in Hancock County,” said Chris Ostrander. “And I’d like to give a special thank you to the Templin’s for their tremendous gift and to the United Way staff and our volunteer cabinet for once again giving a sensational effort to reach out to our business community and its employees to garner their support to achieve a record amount of contributions in 2017.”
“Chris and I have thoroughly enjoyed leading the United Way campaign the last two years,” said Dina Ostrander. “We have so many great people in Hancock County opening their hearts to others who just need some assistance to improve their lives. It’s so encouraging to see our campaign dollars continue to rise so United Way can expand its efforts to impact the lives of our fellow community members.”
John Urbanski, president and CEO of United Way of Hancock County, said, “We’ve broken another record by raising nearly $60,000 more than last year for our community. We are so grateful that Hancock County residents continue to support those most in need as we work to address the root cause of our complex social issues. We have been able to continue the tradition of raising important dollars that I am consistently amazed and humbled at the generosity of the businesses and individuals in Hancock County,” said Urbanski.
The fundraising results are as follows:
The commercial division, chaired by Roger Barton, raised $64,699. This division includes car dealerships, contractors, grocery stores and more.
The corporate division, chaired by Mike Lewis, raised $2,746,045. This division includes all major corporations in Hancock County.
The education division, chaired by Chelsea Bodnarik, raised $62,215. The division includes city schools, county schools, private schools and higher education institutions.
The FIRE division, which includes financial institutions, insurance companies and real estate companies, raised $84,470. This division was chaired by Mary Beth Hammond.
The health division, chaired by Dr. Bill Kose, raised $103,666. The health division includes doctors, dentists, Blanchard Valley Health System, and health services companies like long-term care facilities.
The mercantile division, chaired by Andrea Kramer, raised $50,096. This division includes small storefronts, restaurants and other small businesses in the county.
The professional division, chaired by Drew Mihalik, raised $29,453. The professional division includes attorneys, accountants, ministers, veterinarians and more.
The public division includes nonprofit organizations, city and county employees. This division raised $54,734 and was chaired by Josh Eberle.
The independent division, chaired by David Cassidy, includes retirees and individuals who work from their home or are independent companies. The division raised $116,206.
The rural division, including small businesses outside of Findlay, raised $13,575. The division was chaired by Dean Recker.
This year’s Gaslight Society membership co-chairs were Bill and Hope McCleave. Gaslight Society members are donors who give at a level of $750 or above annually.
Funds raised during the 2017 campaign will be used for programs, services, initiatives and United Way operations during 2018. Since its inception in 1955, United Way of Hancock County has gone from doing fundraising for a handful of organizations to partnering with hundreds of local nonprofit programs and services. Cumulatively, the organization has raised more than $85 million to accomplish its mission to measurably improve people’s lives in Hancock County.
Fund distribution to approved programs and services is determined by local community members who are trained to review grant requests and serve on volunteer impact teams. Agencies eligible to apply for program funding include: American Red Cross-Hancock County Chapter, Boy Scouts of America-Black Swamp Area Council, CASA/GAL of Hancock County, Camp Fire of Northwest Ohio, Center for Safe and Healthy Children, Challenged Champions Equestrian Center, Century Health, Cancer Patient Services, Children's Mentoring Connection, Dental Center of Northwest Ohio, Family Resource Center, Findlay Family YMCA, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Hancock County Saves, HHWP Community Action Commission, Findlay Hope House for the Homeless, Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio, Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services and Salvation Army.
Funds will also support United Way operations and community initiatives such as the Halt Hunger Initiative, the Financial Stability Initiative, the Findlay City Schools and Hancock County prekindergarten scholarship program, the Leader in Me program and Raise the Bar Hancock County. For more information or to serve on an impact team, which approves grants to qualifying organizations, contact the United Way office at 419-423-1432 or visit online at http://LiveUnitedHancockCounty.org