Community Corner

Mentor Companies, Schools Aid United Way's $3.67M Campaign

The campaign was the 12th time in 13 years that United Way raised more funds than the previous year

There's no doubt that Lake County businesses, students and individuals answered United Way's 2012 campaign call to "Be the Change."

As the organization would reveal Thursday at its annual meeting at LaMalfa Centre, that change added up to millions.

United Way of Lake County raised $3.67 million during the campaign year. It marked the 12th time in the past 13 years that the organization was able to raise more funds than the previous year.

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"We asked people to be the change and they did it with pennies, quarters, dimes, dollars, checks, stocks, cars — anything you could think of," campaign co-chair Dave Wiles of CT Consultants said. "In the end, we have everyone in this room and thousands of more donors to thank for bringing this campaign to a successful close. "

Campaign year highlights included the Day of Caring and the Feed Lake County drive, in which Mentor High School donated in one year.

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United Way presented several awards to entities that contributed significant amounts, recruited others to donate or boosted their efforts from last year. Here are some of the Mentor businesses, schools and individuals who were recognized at the annual meeting:

  • Avery Dennison — One of five companies donating more than $100,000
  • Hopkins Elementary School — Largest student campaign
  • Mentor High School — Largest dollar increase, education staff campaign
  • Wiseco, CT Consultants — Companies raising 50 percent more
  • Classic Auto Group — Raised 50 percent more; Gift-in-Kind Award Above and Beyond (Jim Brown)
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, Jenniffer & Co., CT Consultants, Great Lakes Mall, Jeff Cassella, Lake County Council on Aging — Special Event Above and Beyond
  • Lake National Bank, Lintern Corp. — Gold Award for 90-100 Percent Employee Participation

"All these folks made the 'Be The Change' campaign possible," co-chair Lisa Nelson of Right Track Benefits said. "In fact, they made change possible.

"They are the change and the Lake County community has changed because of them."


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