B

The 19 nonprofits who receive funding from the United Way of Hamblen County received a late Christmas present this year.

Thanks to generous giving in the 2022 United Way drive, $1,415,504 was raised, surpassing the original goal of $1,350,000 by $65,500.

Budget and Allocations Committee Chairman Jerry Cranford said that the committee reconvened last Thursday to reallocate those funds.

“This committee met with the 22 United Way agency directors and their volunteers this past April,” Cranford said. “The committee reviewed budgets, programs and requests for additional funding. There were 252 volunteer hours over the course of four evenings spent to determine agency allocations. The campaign goal of $1,350,000 was unanimously approved by our committee with two new agencies being added.”

Campaign Chairman Drew Rowe appreciated the community’s help for this year’s campaign.

“In one respect, it seems like a long time ago on September 8 when we had the kickoff breakfast,” he said. “We launched the theme to ‘Be Someone’s Hero.’ (Hamblen County Superintendent of Schools) Arnie Bunch got us kicked off with a great message and that continued on through a great campaign.”

Rowe said that when he talks about heroes, there are plenty of heroes, pointing to his United Way cabinet, staff, media, participating companies and community givers,

“I appreciate what this community has come together for our goal of $1,350,000,” Rowe said. “Of the 16 divisions, nine met their goals, 14 out of 16 of those divisions were within 90% of their goal. We had a strong campaign all around. The companies and the leadership givers are what makes this campaign a real success.”

Highlights of the campaign included:

• Major Firms I had a 38% participation rate at Meritor.

• Major Firms II saw Sonoco having eight leadership givers, along with increased employee pledges by 26%

• Major Firms III saw JTEKT increase its employee giving by $16,779, or 18%

• Major Firms IV saw a 41% employee giving increase at International Paper

• Large Firms: Rogers Petroleum increases their giving by $17,833

• Business I: Advanced Communications had a 25% increase in total giving

• Business II: Creating Contracting had a 55% increase in employee giving

• Business III: Carlyle Capital increased giving by 300%

• F.I.R.E.: Re/MAX Real Estate had seven leadership givers and a 32% increase in giving

• Government & Education: Hamblen County Government employees increased their giving by 11% while Hamblen County School employees increased giving by 13%

• Medical I: HealthStar Physicians had seven leadership givers

• Medical II: Crescent Center Drugs increased giving by 40%

• Professional: Morristown attorneys increased their giving by 15%

• Special Gifts: The Small Business Blitz raised $6,250 more than last year

• Pacesetters: First Horizon Bank increased its giving by 108% and Morristown Utilities increased by 244%

• Leadership: Went over its goal and raised $603,955 with 283 families contributing.

Top contributors in this campaign ranked with JTEKT first, followed by Rogers Petroleum, Colortech, Morristown Utilities, Meritor, Mahle, First Horizon Corporation, Wallace Distribution, Howmet, Rich Products, Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, Sonoco, International Paper and Hamblen County Schools. Collectively, these companies raised $822,179, or 58%, of the amount raised.

David Culvern reported that total income by United Way was $1,428,601. After expenditures of $1,269,880, the United Way’s income exceeded expenditures by $158,721.

The meals at the three report luncheons were paid with donations of $6,600.

Administrative and campaign expenses were $203,103.

The Nominating Committee picked Mike Best, Lauren Carroll, Justin Cook, Susanne Deneau, Nathan Foshie, Stan Greene, Christine Gosser, Scott Kington, Ray Murphy and Carl Storms for three-year terms on the United Way Board of Directors.

Terry Fishburn was nominated to fill a two-year unexpired term and Rosemary Wigington was nominated for a one-year unexpired. All were voted to the board.

United Way Secretary Jennifer Winkler discussed the loaned executive program.

“Loaned executives are just what the name implies,” Winkler said. “Executives that are on ‘loan’ from their companies to serve as an extension of the United Way staff, for the duration of the campaign. These volunteers are trained to make professional presentations at local businesses and industry at all hours of the day and night.”

Winkler reported that there were 54 presentations made by loaned executives. Statistics indicate that employee giving increases an average of 30% when a loaned executive is used during their company’s campaign.

She suggested a company using a loaned executive for the 2023 campaign to begin this fall.

Justin Cook, senior vice president/commercial banker at First Horizon Corporation, will chair the 2023 United Way of Hamblen County campaign.

He has been a dedicated member of the United Way Leadership committee for many years.

Cook has been active in the last four campaign cabinets by chairing Major Firms I, Major Firms II, Major Firms III and this year’s Major Firms IV division chairman.

Cook is currently president of the Morristown Rotary Club.