Congratulations To Our 2019 Community Builders

To build a community it takes a solid foundation, good people, and a strong investment. The Community Builder Awards go to organizations that participate in various philanthropic efforts and believe that by working together, we can change lives. Community Builders this year were the County of Muskegon, Raymond James & Associates, Sun Chemical, Hart Public Library, and Magna Mirrors. 

Muskegon County has some of the strongest employee participation and dedication in Muskegon. They and their Affiliated Unions have participated in every Fill the Truck Drive, assisted with the funding and identification for our veteran’s who would have their homes fixed on Day of Caring,  staffed an entire team for Day of Caring and participate in collaborative community impact that improves lives countywide. The generosity of their employees has increased their campaign by 5.5% and have organized a County Picnic to benefit the United Way which increased by 235% in 2018. 

 

Raymond James Downtown Muskegon employees were engaged in community impact work, community events, and leadership development with the United Way of the Lakeshore, plus they increased their workplace campaign by 8.6%, making them a leading account in the Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate division.

 

Sun Chemical has had representation throughout United Way that proves their dedication and commitment to improving lives in our community. They have leadership on the United Way Board of Directors and have sent their employees to participate on a veteran’s home for the 25th Annual Day of Caring. They have also been involved and highly engaged in several of our community initiatives and their generous employees have increased their campaign by 4.5 % 

 

 

 

The Norden/Adamczak Investment Group of Raymond James

Kay Williams, Director of the Hart Area Public Library and “Friends of the Hart Library”, is also the newly elected Chair of the United Way of the Lakeshore, in Oceana County. Kay was unanimously elected by her peers to receive the 2019 Oceana County Community Builder Award in recognition of her outstanding support of early and emergent literacy initiatives that are having a significant impact on young children and their families, not only in Hart, but throughout the entire Oceana county community. Kay was instrumental in expanding the United Way of the Lakeshore’s, “Dolly Parton Imagination Library” program in Muskegon, to include all children, Birth to Age 5, who live in Oceana County. Since enrollment began in October 2017, over 650 children throughout the Oceana community have been enrolled in the program! As Kay reminds us, “Imagine the positive impact this act of kindness may have on a family in need!” Through Kay’s leadership, additional partners have joined in their support to keep the program going and growing such as the Oceana Community Foundation, Shelby Library, Rotary Clubs of Hart and Shelby, Oceana Optimists Club, Nichols, the Seneca Corporation, and many private donors who we also honor today! 

 

Magna Mirrors has been a leader of philanthropy and generosity in the United Way of the Lakeshore’s Newaygo County campaign. A true testimony of the community commitment that has been made by Magna Mirrors is the dedication of their employees who more than doubled in participation and engagement to the United Way in Newaygo under the direction of Nancy Rath, Human Resources Manager in 2018.