Kellogg Company & Post Foods Honored with Campaign Excellence Awards

Battle Creek, MI – United Way of Greater Battle Creek highlighted several outstanding volunteers at its annual meeting Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the McCamly Plaza Hotel.  In all nine companies and individuals were recognized with awards for their service to the organization during the campaign and throughout the year.

Todd McDonald and Mac McCullough, the 2009 United Way Campaign Co-chairs presented the Campaign Excellence and Campaign Volunteer of the Year Awards that are selected each year by the campaign chairs.

“There were so many great companies and individuals that contributed to the success of this year’s annual campaign,” said McDonald.  “There is no way we would have topped the $5.4 million mark without the incredible volunteers and support of more than 150 business partners.”

Two companies were honored with Campaign Excellence Awards.  Post Foods received an award for greatest campaign participation increase with 60% of their workforce contributing to the campaign, up from 30% in 2008.  They increased their total giving by 40% bringing their total contribution to $131,000, making them one of the campaign’s top five companies.

Kellogg Company was also recognized with a Campaign Excellence Award for continuing to excel as the campaign’s top contributor.  This year Kellogg Company employees and retirees led the way to another record setting contribution of $3.6 million, including a dollar-for-dollar match from the company.  Kellogg exceeded their campaign goal by a resounding $500,000.  In addition to their significant campaign contributions, they also arranged for Olympic Gold Medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi, to speak at the community campaign kickoff.

Volunteers are key to the success of the annual campaign and the Annual Meeting served as a great opportunity to recognize two of these champions.  Receiving the group Campaign Volunteer of the Year award was Battle Creek Health System’s Dietary and EVS Departments.  This group worked diligently to ensure another successful BCHS campaign creating exceptional campaign posters to help spread the message of United Way.  They also prepared countless baked goods and beautiful gift baskets that were auctioned, raising 13% of their total $65,500 campaign contribution.

David Mackay, president and CEO of Kellogg Company, was presented with the Campaign Volunteer of the year award for outstanding individual.  As a longtime supporter of United Way, Mackay implemented his “lead by example attitude” volunteering to chair the Company’s corporate campaign.  He made a very generous personal gift to the campaign making him an outstanding Alexis de Tocqueville donor.  Never missing an opportunity to express his belief in United Way’s work, he encouraged colleagues, employees and board members, alike, to pledge their support of the community through the Company’s United Way campaign.  Mackay actively participated in many of the company’s internal fundraising events, volunteered in the community during Days of Caring and rallied the troops during global employee update meetings, impacting the home community campaign as well as the campaigns in 27 other communities across the country.

In addition, Todd McDonald, CSM Group and Mac McCullough, Battle Creek Enquirer both received awards for their outstanding leadership of the 2009 Campaign.

Volunteers from Calhoun Intermediate School District, led by ReNae Anderson, received the United Way Community Relations Volunteer of the Year award.  They have displayed an unwavering willingness to help set-up, serve lunch and clean up after the annual campaign kickoff for the past three years.  Their efforts have helped make the event a huge success year after year.

Matt Lynn, Director of Community Impact for United Way presented two outstanding volunteers with the United Way Community Impact Volunteer of the Year award.  Jim Cochrane from the Department of Human Services has served as co-chair of the Planning and Investment Committee for the past year and is also a United Way board member.

Linda Grap from Senior Health Partners was recognized for her leadership as chair of the Education Vision Council along with her contributions to the Planning and Investment Committee.

Cochrane and Grap have both been longtime United Way volunteers.  Cochrane has served on the investment committee for more than 6 years and Grap has served for over a decade.

“We certainly couldn’t accomplish all this good work without the support of such dedicated volunteers,” said Lynn.  “This award is just a small token of our appreciation for the service they have provided for the community.”

United Way of Greater Battle Creek addresses some of our community’s most pressing problems and measurably improves the lives of individuals in need by working to Advancing the Common Good, creating opportunities for a better life for all.               

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United Way of Greater Battle Creek’s mission is to mobilize the caring power of our community to Advance the Common Good by measurably improve lives.
For more information, visit United Way’s office at 34 W. Jackson St., Ste. 4B,Battle Creek MI, 49017, call (269) 962-9538 or visit www.unitedwaybattlecreek.org.

Photo caption (Kellogg Group):  Kellogg Company was recognized with United Way’s Campaign Excellence Award for continuing to excel as the campaign’s top contributor.  Company President and CEO, David Mackay (far left), accepted the award along with members of Kellogg’s United Way leadership committee.  Mackay was also recognized with an individual award for Campaign Volunteer of the Year for serving as chair of the company’s corporate campaign.