2024 Awards and Recognition

Uniting to Thrive Award 

The Uniting to Thrive Company Award is presented to a company that supports United Way year-round, by actively running an employee campaign and encouraging their employees to volunteer. Northcentral Technical College was honored the 2024 award.

NTC runs a successful United Way employee campaign every year with great participation. They’ve been strong community partners. In 2024, we had a team of talented video production students that filmed, edited and created an informational video for United Way. Employees have volunteered throughout the year in the Community Closet, employees purchased and created 50 snack packs for Grant Elementary students and participated in Make a Difference Day.

Dedication to Service Award

The Dedication to Service Award goes to a person and agency that directly impacts our new mission and bold goal, UNITING TO THRIVE. Meghan Schneck-Siems from The Neighbors’ Place was given this award in 2024.

Difference Makers Award

Our 2024 award recipients are Nelle Rutecki from Over East Farms and Kathy & Gary Schneck! 

Advocate of the Year Award

The advocate of the year in 2024, was Lyndsay Krueger! Lyndsay currently sits on the Women United Leadership Council and is a chair of United We Celebrate.
She pours her heart and soul into all that United Way of Marathon County encompasses. Her dedication to improving our community is evident in her efforts to supply the Community Closet with essential winter items. She actively seeks out partnerships with other local programs and fosters enduring relationships between Women United and Community Partners. We are grateful to have Lyndsay supporting us.

Partners in Caring Award

The 2024 Partners in Caring award was awarded to ECDC Multicultural Community Center!

Volunteer of the Year Award

Mitchell Guralski from Creative Planning was named the 2024 Volunteer of the Year! Mitchell is a current board member representing Emerging Leaders. But that’s not all. He is also a member of our Individual Giving Subcommittee and Resource Development Committee. 
Mitchell plays a significant role in the success of Emerging Leaders and has served on the Compete for a Cause committee, Serve Committee and is the Chair of the School grants Committee. We value Mitchell’s knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication. 

Retired Volunteer of the Year

Tammy Hansen was awarded the Retired Volunteer of the Year award. Thank you, Tammy! 

Campaigner of the Year

Shana Gardner from Maple Ridge Farms was the 2024 Campaigner of the Year!
Shana is endlessly thinking of fun ways to engage staff in the campaign at Maple Ridge Farms. Her challenge is to engage both full-time employees and seasonal staff, and she has been very successful in holding events at different times of the year. In the off-season Shana organizes a chili cookoff for full-time employees. She launched a company store in 2024 with branded merchandise where $2 of every item purchased goes to the campaign. The store is live all year. We hear she has some fun ideas for the 2025 campaign!
                                                                 

Carol Pasnecker Office Volunteer of the Year Award

This award is given in memory of Carol Pasnecker. A long-time volunteer who passed away in 2021. The recipient of this award was Community Closet volunteer Diane Nowak! Diane once said that her word is “Joy” and that she sees it everywhere. While Diane sees the word joy, she also brings it to everyone around her.

Diane brings joy to the Community Closet guests, other volunteers, and United Way Staff.  Diane encompasses joy. Just this past year, she volunteered 266 hours in the community closet. Since Diane started volunteering in 2023, she has logged 335 hours!
Diane is willing to help in many roles, is patient and always has a joyful demeanor. There are not enough thank you’s in the world to equate to the time, energy, and joy that Diane brings to her community.

Media Partner of the Year Award

Every year, our nominating committee selects and votes on potential prospects for this award, and typically it is given to a media company. 
However, the committee unanimously selected Jimmy Sadowski to personally receive this award for his accuracy and timeliness in reporting on United Way for News 9 WAOW. Unfortunately, Jimmy was not able to make it tonight, but we want to thank him for his dedication to keeping the community aware of our initiatives and how we are accomplishing our bold goal to lift 10,000 community members to financial stability by 2033.

Special Project Volunteer Award

This award went to one of our very own board members – Jess meadows! Whenever there is a big need in our Community Closet, Jess is the first to step in and organize a collection among her network of family and friends. And let me tell you – she has a lot of friends and even those out-of-state, still participate in her clothing drives. In May, she held a shoe drive. In July, she collected 250 pairs of socks. In August, we needed pants and jeans. She challenged herself to get 100 pairs and ended up collecting 216! Plus, 129 pairs of socks and 29 shirts.
In January, when thecloset needed winter gear, Jess held another clothing drive and dropped off a trunk load of boots, winter coats, socks and clothes!

Shining Star Awards

The employees of these companies ran campaigns that have shown participation growth, leadership growth, overall dollars raised, corporate gifts, and volunteerism. These employees are true advocates for United Way.

•    Domtar
•    Rocket Industrial
•    Aspirus, Inc. 
•    J&D Tube Benders
•    Miron Construction
•    Marathon Cheese Corporation 

2024 SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS!

  • Long Her, from Marathon Cheese Corporation won a $500 gift certificate to The Grand Theater.
  • Judy Weber, from Aspirus Marathon County, won a $500 Festival Foods gift card. 
  • Daniel Schauer, from Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, who won a $500 Gift Certificate Kwik Trip.
  • Tina Lang, from Marathon Cheese Corporation, won a $500 gift card to County Market. 
  • Retiree James Botsford won a $500 gift card bundle. He will enjoy $100 gift cards to Dale’s Weston Lanes, Sconni’s Alehouse & Eatery, Tine & Cellar, Patron Restaurant, and Clean Slate Coffee House.
  • Ron Dirks won a $500 gift card bundle. He will enjoy $100 gift cards to Sam’s Pizza, Evolutions in Design, The Milk Merchant, The Chocolate Cafe, and The Local. 

CASH PRIZE WINNERS!

The third place $1,000 winner was Tang Thao from Marathon Cheese Corporation.

The second place $3,000 Winner was Peter Menutes from Connexus Credit Union.

The Grand Prize $7,000 winners was Russ Obermeier from Greenheck Group.