New London Businesses and Volunteers Honored at United Way Campaign Celebration

United Way of Southeastern Connecticut hosted its Campaign Celebration event on March 20 at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa to recognize local businesses and volunteers that helped to raise $5,786,952 for local health and human services in New London County. This amount marks a slight increase of about $66,000 from what was raised through the United Way Campaign the previous year.

The 2013 United Way Campaign was co-chaired by Robert Nardone of General Dynamics Electric Boat and Keith Brothers of the Norwich-New London Building & Construction Trades Council & Laborers’ Local 547. The dollars raised in the campaign support local programs that help children thrive, support community wellness, promote independence, and provide basic needs including food and heating assistance.

In recognizing the volunteers present at the event, Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and member of United Way’s Campaign Cabinet, noted “The work of United Way, its volunteers and partner programs wouldn’t be possible with you…We’re a community of people. And when we work together, we lift each other up, we lift up the entire community and we advance the common good for all.”

Several New London businesses and individuals were honored this year for their fundraising efforts on behalf of United Way including:

· Charter Oak Federal Credit Union was recognized as the United Way Partner of the Year, recognizing a company supporting United Way on a year-round basis;

· Linda Ozga from SCAAD received Agency Coordinator of the Year, recognizing an individual who goes above and beyond to create innovative special events and educational opportunities to energize the United Way campaign at their non-profit agency;

· Bob Tousignant of The Day was awarded Allocations Volunteer of the Year, recognizing an individual who is devoted and passionate about helping determine how United Way funds are distributed, ensuring donor dollars are wisely and efficiently invested in local program;

· The Metal Trades Council of New London, AFL-CIO received Leadership Giving Campaign of the Year, recognizing an organization that increased the number of leadership members which lead to an increase in their campaign;

· General Dynamics Electric Boat received Corporate Support of the Year, recognizing an organization that goes above and beyond through contributing a corporate gift as well as supporting United Way’s Corporate Benefactor and Loaned Employee programs;

· The Electric Boat Employee Community Service Association was recognized for Employee Campaign Performance of the Year, an award given to an employee campaign that continues to exceed expectations year after year by increasing employee giving and participation; and

· Wireless Zone received New Partner of the Year, recognizing an organization that has partnered with United Way of Southeastern Connecticut by running a first time workplace campaign or coordinated a corporate or foundation gift.

Overall, thirty individuals and businesses were recognized at the event. The Chairman’s Award of Excellence, the highest and most prestigious honor a company can receive for running a United Way Campaign, was presented to Zachry Nuclear Engineering, based in Stonington. The company and its employees donated a total of $123,654. The company experienced 88% participation in the campaign among 153 employees at its Stonington facility. Zachry provides a dollar-for-dollar corporate match on employee giving, with 75 cents going to United Way and 25 cents directed to the Zachry Care Team which funds year-round United Way Day of Caring volunteer projects for its employees.

At the Campaign Celebration, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut President & CEO Virginia L. Mason announced the incoming co-chairs for the 2014 Campaign will be Brian Orenstein, CEO of Charter Oak Federal Credit Union, and Wayne Burgess, President of the Southeastern Connecticut Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

United Way of Southeastern Connecticut is advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all, focusing on helping children to thrive, providing for basic human needs, and promoting independence and community wellness. United Way recruits people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise, and resources needed to get things done.

United Way of Southeastern Connecticut is a locally-based organization serving the towns of New London County.