McCook Daily Gazette: Business: Corporate challenge comes through for United Way (03/02/10)

Winners of the 2009-10 Valmont United Way Corp. Challenge were, from left, Lyle Brown representing Wells Fargo Bank in the small business category; Scott Barger representing McCook National Bank in the medium business category; and Dan Burns representing Valmont in the large business category.
(Courtesy photo)

[Click to enlarge]

A friendly competition among businesses in McCook has paid huge dividends for the McCook United Way. In fact, the support of the competing businesses and their employees provided more than 70 percent of the funds raised in 2009-10 campaign for the non-profit organization that helps fund 15 local agencies.

The Valmont Corporate Challenge is now in its seventh year. Since its inception, participating businesses and their employees have pledged over $340,000 to the McCook United Way.

Businesses competing in the challenge this year included Wells Fargo Bank, McCook National Bank, First Central Bank, Valmont, Community Hospital, and AmFirst Bank.

During the 2009-10 campaign, the 561 employees of the six competing businesses pledged a total of $47,379.86, which represented almost 60 percent of the $79,100 raised so far. The employers contributed another $8,050, making Corporate Challenge pledges from businesses and their employees total $55,429.86 or 70 percent of the total amount pledged.

The McCook United Way's goal for the 2009-10 pledge drive is $92,125, so they are still about $13,000 short of being able to meet all of their budgeted distributions to local agencies. The agencies that will benefit from the 2009-10 United Way fund-raising efforts include Swatters 4-H Club, Adult Basic Education, MNCA Commodity Supplemental Foods, Prairie Plains CASA, Domestic Abuse Services, Family Resource Center, Lutheran Family Services, MNCA Homeless Prevention, Team Mates Mentoring Program, Lutheran Family Diversion Program, Boy Scouts of America, Live Y-er's, MNCA Head Start, Salvation Army, and Ed Thomas YMCA.

While the Valmont Corporate Challenge has been extremely beneficial to the United Way and its agencies, organizers are enthusiastic about including other McCook and area employers into the competition. Businesses compete based on the number of employees the business has -- small business is 5 to 25 employees; medium is 26 to 70; and large is over 70 employees. The challenge is one way to incorporate fun into helping others, as well as building team spirit among staff.

One of the fun things Valmont did to raise money for the United Way was "Penny Wars". Each department had a gallon jar in which employees could contribute pennies. The department with the most pennies won the "war." But there was a catch. If someone contributed other denominations (nickels, dimes, quarters or larger) the total would be reduced proportionately. So as one department's jar became full of pennies, another department could sabotage them by contributing a $20 bill. Not only did the war provide $553 to the United Way fund drive, it also provided a lot of entertainment for the devious staff.

The United Way will continue to work to raise the funds needed to fully support the agencies and the people they serve for the 2009-10 budget year.

Contributions can be mailed to P.O. Box 97, McCook, NE 69001. By donating $50 or more before Mar. 15, individual donors can enter a drawing for $500 in United Way Dollars, which can be redeemed at participating local businesses.