Cedar Valley United Way Sees Record Campaign

WATERLOO, IA – The 2013 Cedar Valley United Way campaign raised a record $3,130,663 to advance education, income and health in the Cedar Valley. The announcement was made during the Breakfast of Champions at Park Place Event Centre Thursday morning.

Geof Grimes, a community volunteer leader, and Joe Vich, vice-chairman of Community Bank and Trust, served as co-chairs for the 2013 campaign.

“This is a great outcome for our community,” said Vich. “Throughout the campaign, we talked with many people who received help from United Way funded programs. They are forever grateful for the impact United Way had in their lives. We know these contributions will go to work in the same way to improve education, income and health in the Cedar Valley.”

“It takes an entire community to have a successful campaign,” said Grimes. “We were lucky to have the support from businesses and individuals across our community. We are honoring a handful of companies and individuals for their efforts in the 2013 campaign today, but the truth is this success wouldn’t have been possible without the help of thousands of donors who contributed to the United Way campaign.”

Individuals and companies recognized during the Breakfast of Champions included:

  • CBE Companies
  • Dickey’s Printing
  • Hy-Vee
  • Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo
  • John Deere Foundry
  • Kirk Gross Company
  • O’Neal Steel Inc.
  • PDCM Insurance Co.
  • University of Iowa Community Credit Union
  • Viking Pump, Inc.
  • Employee Campaign Managers: Jim Nienkark, Metropolitan Transit Authority; Gil Schultz, John Deere Waterloo Operations, and Dr. Adrian Talbot, Cedar Falls Public Schools
  • Loaned Executive Andrew Duncan, Veridian Credit Union

Sixteen businesses were also recognized for having 100 percent participation in the 2013 campaign. Those organizations are:

  • Cedar Valley United Way
  • City of Waterloo Attorney’s Office
  • City of Waterloo Finance Office
  • Community Bank and Trust
  • Emergency Practice Associates, Inc.
  • Family & Children’s Council of Black Hawk County
  • First National Bank
  • Heaton Adams & Company P.C.
  • Iowa Legal Aid
  • Lamar Advertising of Waterloo
  • ME&V
  • MidWestOne Bank
  • Nelson Properties/Midtown Development
  • NXT Bank
  • PDCM Insurance Co.
  • StruXture Architects

The annual campaign kicked off in August and continued through January. Money raised during the 2013 campaign will be distributed in funding grants to recipients selected by volunteer Community Impact Teams that review grant applications to make recommendations on how the money can most effectively work in the community. Applications for these funding grants in the areas of education, income and health are due to Cedar Valley United Way Friday, February 14. Programs that received funding in the past have included after-school and child care programs, disaster services, elderly transportation, community meals and help for victims of domestic violence. Cedar Valley United Way also funds 2-1-1 Information and Referral services.

For more information about Cedar Valley United Way or to learn how you can contribute, visit www.cedarvalleyunitedway.org.

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