The team from Lineage Logistics in Stevens Point won the four-team kickball tournament to take home the championship trophy at the United Way of Portage County 2019 Campaign Kickoff at Veterans Memorial Park in Plover. (Contributed)

United Way of Portage County ‘kicks’ off 2019 Campaign

August 12, 2019

Metro Wire Staff

The United Way of Portage County kicked off its 2019 Campaign with a kickball tournament and other fun events at Veterans Memorial Park in Plover on Aug. 1.

Thanks to four early pacesetter campaigns, the United Way announced at the event it has already reached the 16-percent mark of its $3.05 million campaign goal.

“These early results are guaranteed to motivate and inspire other individuals and organizations gearing up for the fall 2019 community campaign,” said Les Dobbe, one of three chairs for the 2019 Campaign drive.

Dobbe, development/advisor at Lineage Logistics in Stevens Point, is co-chairing the 2019 Campaign with Jeff Budelier, president of Recycled Office Environments in Stevens Point, and Doug Munsey, president of Ki Mobility in Stevens Point. All three drive chairs participated in the kickoff event.

Pacesetter companies for 2019 included Wysocki Family of Companies, Ki Mobility, Recycled Office Environments, and Delta Dental of Wisconsin. All four companies had increases in their campaigns from 2018 to 2019.

Totals for the Pacesetters included: Wysocki, $29,526; Ki Mobility, $33,000; Recycled Office Environments, $8,863; and Delta Dental, $382,526.

During the kickball tournament, two United Way partner program teams comprised of staff, volunteers and program participants representing United Way’s 30+ partner programs faced off against teams comprised of staff from Lineage Logistics and Ki Mobility. Lineage Logistics took home the championship trophy after scoring two runs in the fifth and final inning to beat Ki Mobility 5-4.

In addition to the four-team kickball tournament, the event included a local school mascot race featuring mascots from public and parochial schools in Stevens Point, Amherst, Almond, and Rosholt, as well as the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. A number of lucky spectators took home T-shirts, caught hot dogs, and left with other prizes that were launched into the crowd from a giant slingshot.

Event sponsors included Recycled Office Environments (ROE), Ki Mobility, and Lineage Logistics.

The United Way of Portage County 2019 Campaign will take place throughout Portage County at approximately 160 worksites, via direct mail, and contributions made online at www.unitedwaypoco.org.

Donors giving $52 or more to the 2019 United Way campaign will receive a GIVE & GET UNITED Coupon Book with more than $2,000 in local discounts. Eligible donors of $52 or more are also automatically entered into the LIVE UNITED – GIVE UNITED Sweepstakes for a chance to win their choice of one of seven vehicles including a 2020 Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 4×4, valued at over $42,000, donated by Scaffidi Motors, in addition to six other prizes each valued at $1,000 or more.

For more information about the campaign, call 715-341-6740, email [email protected], or visit www.unitedwaypoco.org.