MC Steve Martin, MC Carrie Dreger, Event Producer Nathaniel Springer, United Way Executive Director Sue Wilcox, and United Way Resource Development Director Fred Hebblewhite pose for a photo with the scoreboard reveling United Way campaign total of $ 3,104,592 after the Victory Celebration at the K.B. Willett Arena. The scoreboard includes totals from the 2020 campaign and the 2020 Portage County COVID-19 Relief Fund. (Contributed)

United Way celebrates 75th anniversary, scores ‘goal’ by exceeding $3M mark

December 10, 2020December 11, 2020

By Patrick Lynn

The United Way of Portage County joined with the community virtually on Wednesday to celebrate the conclusion of its 2020 Community Campaign.

Members from the United Way gathered at K.B. Willett Ice Arena to announce the group raised a campaign total of $ 3,104,592 for United Way of Portage County’s 2020 campaign—also the group’s 75th anniversary.

The campaign surpassed the 2020 goal of $3.05 million during a tough year for many.

The total raised is in addition to the $614,848 brought in previously as part of the Portage County COVID-19 Relief Fund (PCCRF), which was established in a partnership with the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin early in the pandemic. The fund allowed the United Way flexibility in providing resources to organizations working to address critical needs due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a news release from the United Way.

“In this disconnected time we’re living in, thank you for continuing to share in this common goal—to help our community’s most vulnerable populations,” said Sue Wilcox in a press statement. “Your kindness is unstoppable. You are my superheroes.”

A Facebook Live event was held at the K.B. Willett Ice Arena and included a “virtual round of applause for supporting the community for 75 years” from NHL Center for the Dallas Stars and Plover native, Joe Pavelski.

“Your long tradition of giving back makes Portage County a great place to live,” Pavelski said. “A place where people can live; can grow; can chase their dreams, wherever that might take them.”

Two of this year’s Campaign Drive Chairs—Jim Anderson and Tina Peters—were on hand at the Victory Celebration to share their experiences and to thank each and every person that helped in reaching the 2020 goal and the difficulties encountered during a tumultuous campaign.

“The status of company campaigns, both large and small, was uncertain; the financial state of individual donors was unknown; and, for an annual campaign that typically receives over $200,000 dollars from in-person, special events, the goal in no way represented a conservative figure or one that could easily be achieved,” Anderson said.

For the eighth consecutive year, the United Way of Portage County LIVE UNITED – GIVE UNITED Sweepstakes has awarded individual donors with prizes donated by local businesses, including a grand prize of the choice between a new SUV or $25,000. The 2020 sweepstakes concluded with a “pick a puck” game where each of the semi-finalists randomly selected one of the ten prizes, then to a roll of the dice to narrow down the top three prize winners – with Falan Shulfer ultimately walking away with the grand prize choice between $25,000 or a new 2020 vehicle donated by Scaffidi Motors and past Drive Chairs.

Event MC’s Steve Martin and Carrie Dreger also awarded nine other prizes with Zach Wierzba of Stevens Point winning the Lee Ayer Jewelers and Thomas Dailing Designs choice of a United Way Inspired pendant or a $1,000 Lee Ayers Jewelers gift card; Dana Cyra of Junction City walked away with the Stevens Point Orthopedics sponsored prize of Fitbit, D1 Training membership and Campus Cycle gift certificate; Rhonda Greeno from Sparta won the winner’s choice Simplicity Credit Union sponsored prize of a John Deere lawn tractor or Riesterer and Schnell gift certificate; Tina Grimm of Wisconsin Rapids received the winner’s choice Skyward sponsored prize of a 65” HDTV and Nintendo Switch package or a $1,500 Best Buy gift certificate; Carrie Walczak won the Designers 2 $1,500 gift certificate; Hazel Packer of Amherst received the Taylor Family sponsored prize of $1,200 in Portage County gift certificates; Liz Potter-Nelson of Stevens Point walked away with a deluxe portrait session from John Hartman Contemporary Photography; Heather Anderson of Plover received the Green Bay Packer package sponsored by Associated Bank that included an Aaron Rodgers signed game ball, Packers Pro Shop gift card and other great Packer gifts; and Tate Zarecki won the Northwestern Mutual sponsored winner’s choice prize of a $1,000 travel voucher or a $1,000 Disney gift card.

United Way of Portage County brings people and resources together to achieve measurable results that improve people’s lives and strengthen the community. To learn more, visit www.unitedwaypoco.org.