More than a dozen workplaces are encouraging employees to give back to the community this fall through their own, customized Rice County Area United Way campaigns. For Community Resource Bank, the campaign is more than a way for employees to donate. “Our employees look forward to our campaign all year long because it is so much fun,” said Patti Quilling, vice president at Community Resource Bank and a former Rice County Area United Way board member.
“Each year, we at Community Resource Bank have a week-long campaign to celebrate our commitment to supporting the United Way and our community,’ said Jim Loe, Community Resource Bank president and CEO. “The United Way is good at connecting our donations with worthy organizations that might not otherwise be known to us. We make our campaign week a fun, team-building experience.”
This year Community Resource Bank will kick off its week-long employee campaign Monday, November 4.
“The workplace campaign is a 70-year old tradition for our United Way, and one that brings in half of our local donations,” said Elizabeth Child, executive director of Rice County Area United Way.
Nationwide, 86 percent of employees say it’s important to work for a company whose values align with their own, according to a Fidelity Charitable study in 2023. The research concludes that employees who have a workplace giving program are more likely to say that their company’s values align with their personal values. But it is important that they have input into that workplace giving program.
At Community Resource Bank, Quilling leads a team that decides what the United Way campaign will look like, combining meaningful testimony about community needs and problem solving with team-building fun and games.
Child will attend the November 4 kick-off breakfast to tell bank employees about this year’s campaign theme, Give Where You Live, and let them know how their donations benefit the local community. For example, donations to Rice County Area United Way stay local and they benefit two dozen local nonprofits that United Way funds, or may be designated to a 501c3 of choice.
“The main mission of the United Way campaign is to inspire caring about others,” said Child. “We encourage employees to give to nonprofits and causes they care about most. Giving to our community fund is a great option for those who want to donate to our community’s greatest needs.”
Nonprofits that receive local United Way funds include the Community Action Center, HealthFinders Collaborative, Healthy Community Initiative and Hope Center – all agencies which receive flexible funding to use where needed. That flexibility in funding is rare and highly valued by nonprofits.
“HealthFinders is only able to see all patients regardless of their circumstance because of local support from the United Way,” said Charlie Mandile, HealthFinders Collaborative executive director.
In addition to funding area nonprofits, Rice County Area United Way also offers the option of donating to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – the only program it manages inhouse. As a partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a foundation with international reach, Rice County Area United Way funds the mailing of more than 20,000 books annually to more than 1700 Rice County area children, ages birth to age five. The program inspires a love of books, and research has shown that children who receive the books are more likely to ask to be read to and become adept readers than those who didn’t have the books.
Calendar of Community Resource Bank United Way Events, November 4 to 9
Monday: wear a hat; kick-off breakfast
Tuesday: red white and blue dress day; office bingo.
Wednesday – Hawaiian beach dress; bake sale
Thursday: wear a sports jersey; silent auction
Friday camo vs. flannel dress; campaign wraps up