A Celebration of Excellence. Honoring Our Corporate Campaigns

United Way of Central Ohio recognized partner organizations that strengthen our community and live united by conducting outstanding campaigns at its Celebration of Excellence held at the Ohio Union at The Ohio State University.

METTLER TOLEDO received the highest honor, The Corporate Award of Excellence, which recognizes overall achievement in corporate and volunteer philanthropic efforts.  Award judges found that METTLER TOLEDO excels in all aspects of their campaign including embracing best practices, educating employees year-round through group meetings, events and volunteer opportunities, and promoting leadership giving.

This is the seventh year that The Award of Excellence has been presented.  Previous winners are Grange Insurance, American Electric Power (AEP) / IBEW Local 1466, Nationwide, UPS, Deloitte & Touche and Bruner Corporation 

This year a new high honor was presented -- The Agency Award of Excellence -- that recognizes overall campaign excellence among United Way's member agencies.  The award went to Godman Guild Association for their support of the campaign and their strong results.

Janet E. Jackson, United Way of Central Ohio's president and CEO, selected Lane Bryant to receive the first-ever President's Award.  The leadership team at Lane Bryant enthusiastically championed their campaign and inspired their associates to significant increases in both participation rates and overall results.

Awards for outstanding efforts in specific campaign areas went to: 

• Best New Corporate Campaign -- Frost Brown Todd
• Best New Agency Campaign -- Franklinton Development Association

This award recognizes two new campaigns, a company and an agency that have run their first workplace campaigns this year. They have incorporated model campaign strategies and have made United Way a part of their organizational cultures.

• Engaged Leadership Team -- KPMG

The Engaged Leadership Team award acknowledges the company CEO and management team who went above and beyond in their workplace campaign.

• Innovative Campaign Committee -- Bailey Cavalieri

This award recognizes the accomplishments of the most innovative and creative workplace campaign.

• Leadership Giving -- The Pizzuti Companies

The Leadership Giving award honors a company that promotes involvement with United Way at a leadership giving level, which is $1,000 or more per household per year.

• Employee Education -- Alliance Data

The Employee Education award recognizes a company that educates its employees on United Way’s work, by hosting campaign meetings and agency tours, and by sharing United Way’s work in year-round employee communications.”

• Employee Volunteerism -- Community Shelter Board

The Employee Volunteerism award honors a company that provides volunteer opportunities on a year-round basis

The awards were presented by Michael Morris, chairman and CEO, AEP, who hosted the event, Carl English 2010 United Way of Central Ohio Campaign Chair, and Michael Gonsiorowski, United Way of Central Ohio Board Chair.

“United Way would not be able to change lives and advance the common good without the efforts of the organizations honored here today,” said Janet E. Jackson.  “The dedicated people in each of these organizations truly know what it means to live united by giving, advocating, and volunteering.”

Carl English also announced that the 2010 annual campaign raised $47.9 million to fund United Way's work of achieving our community's Bold Goals in the areas of education, income, health and home.

This result represents a 9.3% increase over the 2009 campaign total, and far surpasses the aggressive goal of a 5% increase set for the 2010 campaign.

Carl English thanked Labor Co-chair, Charles Tippie, president and business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1466, and Randy Sleeper, president and CEO of Bruner Corporation who served as Leading Edge Chair.  Leading Edge is an effort focused on increasing the number of organizations that conduct workplace campaigns.

It was announced that Bob Restrepo, chairman, president and CEO of State Auto Insurance Companies and his wife Mary Frances Restrepo are the 2011 Campaign Co-Chairs.