COLUMBUS AREA UNITED WAY EMPHASIZES PARTICIPATION, INCREASES CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Columbus, Nebraska – Teamwork makes the dream work and thanks to the help from community members, volunteers, and business owners, Columbus Area United Way is one step closer to helping people in our area achieve their dreams.
On January 8th, people gathered at the Columbus Community Building anxiously awaiting to hear the campaign total raised by Columbus Area United Way and volunteers. They were also treated to an amazing performance by Baker’s Dozen, a boys’ a cappella group from Columbus High School. After acknowledging the demanding work of community members and giving recognition to our award winners, the total of $927,600 was revealed. Drive Chairmen, Ahren Uhlig, Edgewater Insurance said, “Announcing the amount raised is always exciting. Even though we did not reach our goal, the amount raised is still a huge testament to our community and how much they care about helping others.”
The funding raised from the 2025 campaign will go to support eighteen organizations and thirty programs in the areas of Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Healthy Communities. These organizations and programs help support community members in our four-county area of Platte, Colfax, Boone, and Nance. 1 in 4 community members currently utilize a program that is funded by Columbus Area United Way so without funding from the campaign, community members would not be able to access services or programs that are needed to help them thrive.
One of the large reasons for increased campaign success is the emphasis placed on participation. Awards were created last year to boost employee participation and continued with the 2025 campaign. Board President, Dr. Chip Kay, Columbus Public Schools said, “The focus on increased participation has shown that increasing the number of donors is directly correlated with increased donations and these donors are essential to getting our campaign closer to the $1 million mark.”
The Bronze Award is given to businesses who have at least 40% of their employees participate. The Silver Award is for those who have at least 50% and the Gold Award is for those businesses who reached at least 60%. All businesses must donate at least $500 to be eligible.
The businesses who received the Bronze Award are Columbus Family YMCA, First Interstate Bank, Gene Steffy Ford, Nebraska Public Power District, Schumacher, Smejkal, & Elm, and Tessendorf & Tessendorf PC.
Those receiving the Silver Award are Audio-Logic, P.C., Central Confinement Service, LLC, Great Plains State Bank, Mountain View PMT, Tessendorf Chiropractic, and Tremel Surveying, Inc.
The Gold Award winners are BankFirst Columbus, Member FDIC, Columbus Are Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Bank and Trust Company, Columbus Public Schools, Cornerstone Bank, Edgewater Insurance, First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO,) First Nebraska Bank, Highstreet Insurance, Home Financing Direct, Mid-America Research Chemical Corp, Nebraska Realty, Northwestern Mutual, OneNebraska Federal Credit Union, Pathfinder Wealth Advisors, Pillen Family Farms/DNA Genetics, Pinnacle Bank – Columbus, Platte County Clerk’s Office, Red Door Designs, Union Bank & Trust, and United Way Staff.
Columbus Area United Way would like to thank all the volunteers, businesses, and community members who helped us reach our goal this year. Without their enthusiasm and participation, the campaign would not have been as successful. Our Pacesetter companies also made large strides this year to help jump start the 2025 campaign.
Uhlig adds, “I want to take this time to thank every person and business who helped us raise these dollars for the 2025 campaign. It takes lots of individual people putting in extra time and energy to ensure that this funding is there to help local organizations help our community members and we could not do it without each one of you.”