Serving the needy

By Pamela Glason Thornton
Staff Writer
Union County Post

Individuals who pledge to the annual United Way campaign can designate where – which specific organization and which county – they want their donation to go. The campaign was a way for individuals and companies to continue a tradition of giving back and to partake in meaningful participation.
Marysville–based Honda of America Manufacturing, which has facilities and employees in surrounding counties, had good reason to celebrate its record number of contributions pledged to the United Way’s campaign. Honda of America Manufacturing was the top contributor for Union County. Together, Honda of America and its associates contributed more than $1.76 million during the recent campaign.
Internal fundraising efforts among Honda of America associates and the corporation netted more than $250,000 for Union County.
From Honda employees, $251,280 was earmarked for United Way of Union County.
7,950 associates pledged, including 1,150 who designated $167,520.48 to Union County. In addition to the associate pledges, Honda contributes a 50 percent corporate match, which brings the total contribution to $251,280.
Nationwide is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, was the second highest contributor to the Union County United Way.
Nationwide has offices at Dublin’s Tuttle Crossing within Union County.
Sixty-six percent of Nationwide associates participated in the company’s fundraiser, giving $8,751,031.65. Nationwide Foundation adds a 100–percent corporate match to associates’ United Way campaign donations.
For the second year in a row, donor designations to United Way of Union County from Nationwide will surpass the $100,000 mark. $108,319 of the $17.5 million raised by the insurance company are earmarked for Union County.
“ It is a direct reflection of the values of ‘Nationwiders’ around the country,” said Mike Lex, Nationwide’s 2007 United Way Campaign Chair. The donation is a result of associate donations and the corporate match program. “They give for the right reasons. They give from the heart,” added Lex.
This marks the third year in a row that Nationwide will be United Way of Union County’s second largest workplace campaign, behind Honda of America – despite the fact that it is not located in Union County.
“ These are still local donors doing the contributing,” said Dave Bezusko, United Way of Union County’s Campaign & PR Director. “We have a large number of commuters who live here and drive to work at Nationwide’s offices in the Tuttle area in Dublin or all the way to downtown Columbus.
Nationally, The Nationwide Foundation and the company’s associates pledged more than $17 million to local United Ways.
“ Honda’s philosophy is to support the community,” said Rene Hoy, Honda of America Corporate Affairs and United Way committee project leader. “We want our communities to say ‘I’m just glad Honda’s here.’”
“ We’re ecstatic that Honda’s here!” said Dave Bezusko, Campaign & PR Director of the United Way of Union County. “Honda’s contribution to our organization represents almost one-third of our annual revenue and the generosity of their associates shines through year after year. Their campaign is a model of efficiency in fundraising. And you can’t say enough about their team of associates who pull together to coordinate this massive undertaking in addition to the workload already on their plates.”
United Way representatives from 15 counties in west central Ohio celebrated the success of the 2008 United Way campaign on November 1 at Honda of America Mfg., Inc.
Nearly 8,000 Honda of America associates who pledged toward the 2008 campaign selected United Way agencies in 67 counties within Ohio, and another 39 counties outside Ohio, for their contributions.
For the 13th time Honda of America associates pledged more than $1 million to local United Ways within the company’s 15-county hiring region. Honda of America matches associate contributions at 50 cents per dollar.
“ The team at Honda of America once again showed its commitment to their neighbors, friends and families by contributing $1.17 million to the United Way,” said Tom Shoupe, the company’s 2008 United Way Campaign chair. “The many agencies supported through the United Way help make a difference in our communities.”
Referring to the corporate partnerships of area campaign supporters, Bezusko emphasized, “That’s really incredible generosity.”
Shoupe added that the United Way increases value to the local agencies by leveraging additional partnerships, government funding and grant support with the dollars raised through the local campaigns.
United Way campaigns support hundreds of local agencies in the counties where Honda associates live and work. The impact becomes real and is felt in many of the counties through educational and enrichment programs for youth, programs to strengthen families, personal health and well-being, and agencies that care for people in crisis.
“ We encourage all Union County residents to ‘Give where you Live’ and allow your charitable dollar to strengthen your own neighborhood,” stressed Bezusko.
United Way programs can be found at organizations such as the American Red Cross and YMCA that operate in most counties, as well as local agencies that are unique to each community and fit the area’s needs. Such programs include Wings Enrichment Center in Union County, Warm Clothes for Kids in Logan County, The Buckeye Ranch in Franklin County and the Wilma Valentine Creative Learning Center in Shelby County.
Honda of America employs 12,500 associates at the Marysville Motorcycle Plant, Marysville Auto Plant and related support operations in Union County, the East Liberty Auto Plant in Logan County and the Anna Engine Plant in Shelby County.
Since 1982, associates who work at a Honda facility and Honda of America, the corporation, have contributed more than $26.5 million to local agencies through the United Way.
Honda employees designated United Way contributions for different counties. In 2008, thanks to Honda designations, the following Ohio counties will receive gifts of the following amounts: Allen $64,632; Auglaize $85,953; Champaign $102,420; Clark $81,869; Darke $11,242; Delaware $81,237; Franklin (United Way of Central Ohio) $364,099; Hardin $50,973; Logan $266,983; Madison $27,737; Marion $71,328; Mercer $42, 789; Miami-Covington $5,914; Miami-Piqua $14,110; Miami-Tipp $6,672; Miami-Troy $32,274; Shelby $134,833 and Union $251,280.
Honda of America, Mfg. has been conducting a United Way campaign in its workplace since 1982, giving more than $26.5 million to United Ways across Ohio over that 25-year period.
The November 1 Honda announcement took United Way of Union County’s 2007 campaign total to $593,373, or 74 percent of the organization’s $800,000 goal. The November 8 announcement at Nationwide took the organization to $604,563, or 76 percent of its $800,000 goal.
The campaign ends December 1. For more information about the annual United Way fundraising campaign, please visit www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org.