By Graham Kislingbury
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:00 am
The United Way of Linn County paid tribute Wednesday evening to the companies, partner agencies and individuals who participated in the organization's annual fundraising campaign.
The 2007-08 campaign is approaching $970,000 in cash and pledges toward a $1 million goal, said Greg Roe, executive director. It has already topped last year's total of $956,054. The campaign will end in April.
Shelly Garrett, executive director of the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce, received the Ron Loney Leadership Award for her civic and United Way involvement. She is a past United Way board president and campaign chairwoman.
"She never volunteers just half way," Roe said. "She pours her heart and soul into everything she does and has a passion for helping others that is second to none."
John Harris of Horsepower Productions was named Outstanding Loaned Executive. He was in charge of six campaign accounts that brought in $33,363.
Pete Boucot of Costco Wholesale received the Clydene Case Award for Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year.
Costco Wholesale also received the Business of the Year Award. The company raised $74,421, an increase of $32,920 over the previous year.
Wah Chang, which increased participation by
6 percent and had a total campaign of $157,522, received the Business Achievement Award. Wah Chang employee Al Riley was recognized for his 20 years of coordinating the company's United Way campaign.
Weyerhaeuser was named Outstanding Large Business of the Year. The company's campaign at six sites in Linn County raised a total of $108,465.
Pacific Power, the Small Business of the Year, had a 67 percent increase in employee giving for a total campaign of $12,258.
Other recipients:
Company awards
• National Frozen Foods, Large Business Corporate Contributor of the Year.
• Golden West Homes, Small Business Corporate Contributor of the Year.
• Lowe's Distribution Center, Large New Business of the Year.
• United Pipe and Supply, Small New Business of the Year.
• City of Lebanon, Public Sector/Nonprofit of the Year.
• Save-A-Lot grocery store, Large Business Sponsor of the Year.
• Wyatt's Eatery & Brewhouse, Small Business Sponsor of the Year.
• Georgia-Pacific, Company Volunteer of the Year.
• Albany Democrat-Herald, Community Spirit Award.
Employee Awards
• Knife River, Most Improved Campaign.
• National Frozen Foods, Large Business Outstanding Employee Campaign.
• Allied Waste Services, Small Business Outstanding Employee Campaign.
• Costco Wholesale, Leadership Giving Award (16 donors giving at levels of $500 or more).
• Wah Chang, Large Business Employee Giving Award.
• Weyerhaeuser Regional Office ($14,265 total campaign).
• ATI Allvac, Large Business Average Gift Award (average giving increased by $65).
• Security Alarm Corporation, Small Business Average Gift ($405 average gift).
• Pacific Cast Technologies, Large Business Employee Participation Award (increased participation by 10.5 percent to 97 donors).
• Citizens Bank, Small Business Employee Participation Award (more than 90 percent participation for the past two years).
More than 120 people attended Wednesday's 50th United Way campaign celebration at the Linn-Benton Community College Commons. The awards and table decorations had a '50s theme and staff members, including Roe, came dressed in apparel from that decade.
In what's become an annual tradition, the program concluded with a song written by Jim Asleson, executive director of the United Way of Linn County. He sang the baseball-themed "Sign Me Up, Coach."
VOLUNTEER TEAMS
The following United Way volunteers also were recognized at Wednesday's campaign celebration:
Campaign team
Shelly Jones, Costco Wholesale, campaign chairwoman; Stacy Bostrom, Citizens Bank; Pat Eastman, Security Alarm Corp; Lon Gentry, Central Willamette Community Credit Union; Tracy Liles, Key Bank; Wayne Rieskamp; Donna Rounsavell, Oregon Freeze Dry; and Nancy Whitley, Northwest Natural.
Loaned Executive Team
Pete Boucot, Costo Wholesale; Kerri Chambers, Costco Wholesale; John Harris, Horsepower Productions; Bridgette Horlacher, Boys and Girls Club of Sweet Home; Darin Klarr, SELCO Community Credit Union; Sandy Torgrimson-Fox, Central Willamette Community Credit Union; Gary Lanctot, LBCC; Kelly O'Donnell, Boys and Girls Club of Lebanon; April Opoien, Citizens Bank; Cameron Passmore, Rhodes Warden Insurance.