Thank you for joining us for Connections: Impacting Our Community. Each year, this event gives us a chance to look back at the past year and celebrate those who made it a success.
We started the event with campaign co-chair, Anne Carter, who helped kick off our new campaign by sharing her connection to United Way. In case you missed it, we also premiered our 2017 campaign video:
Current board chair, Jon Bancks, and incoming board chair, Cathy Terukina, announced winners of our annual recognition awards. These individuals demonstrate outstanding leadership, philanthropy, volunteer service, and civic responsibility in our community:
- John B. Northcott Award | Jim Haddad
- Community Philanthropist Award | Larry Helling
- Young Leaders Award | Dr. Nate Klein
- Lynn L. Nichols Award | Joe Lock
Guest speaker, Harry Sydney
We also hosted guest speaker, Harry Sydney, former NFL player and coach and founder of My Brother’s Keeper. He spoke about his motivations to start the nonprofit that mentors boys and men in Green Bay, WI. My Brother’s Keeper provides clients with knowledge and skills to make positive decisions and changes in their lives. Harry emphasized that it takes everyone working together to change communities for the better.
“Each one of us makes a difference. Don’t stop making a difference. It’s not about the money you make; it’s how you use it.” — Harry Sydney
We value the connections we have in East Central Iowa. As another campaign begins, we continue to evaluate needs in our community and develop solutions to fight these issues. Read our reports on women’s health, housing needs, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and volunteerism at uweci.org/reports.