United Way sets goal, names pacesetter

VW independent/United Way  information

The 2014 United Way campaign chair, Scott Mull of Central Insurance, has set an aggressive campaign goal for the United Way of Van Wert County — $600,000!

“We first started discussing what the amount our campaign goal should be during the allocation process,” Mull said. “This year’s goal is the amount our local member agencies told us they needed to operate and provide their needed programs for the community.”

Mull also noted there were also a few new program requests, programs that would really benefit the community, but that the United Way just didn’t have enough funding to take them on at this time.

The campaign theme this year, “Open Your Eyes”, really has two meanings: the first, encouraging citizens to open their eyes to the needs of the community; and second to open local residents’ eyes to the United Way’s 24 incredible member agencies that work tirelessly each and every day to meet the needs in Van Wert County.

“I hope this year’s theme inspires people to take a look around Van Wert, see what needs there are and what we can do about those needs,” Mull added. “Sometimes it is not just about funding, it’s about volunteering and making a difference in someone’s life.”

This year’s United Way campaign pacesetter is Central Insurance, which has been a supporter of the local United Way from its very beginning in 1922.

This year, Carly Fortman and Travis Owens are chairing the internal campaign at Central, where all employees will attend a campaign meeting at which they will view the campaign video, hear an agency speaker, and learn more about United Way and the services provided by the 24 local agencies.

“We are excited to have Central leading the way for the United Way this year,” said United Way Executive Director Deb Russell. “Central employees have always been generous in their support of the United Way and Central matches their employee pledges.

“This makes a huge difference to our campaign, and they don’t stop with just the fundraising aspect of our campaign.” Russell added. “Every year they have done an agency project for Day of Caring, and they hold a companywide competition for the Day of Caring food drive.

Russell went on to say that Central is very supportive of the Van Wert community, which the United Way appreciates, and does not take for granted.

The company and employee totals will be announced by a Central representative at the United Way campaign kick-off set for Wednesday, September 24, in the First Federal Lecture Hall of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.