For the City-Times

It was another record-breaking year for the Portage County community, as it came together and raised $2,819,334 for United Way of Portage County’s 2014 Campaign. This total was revealed at the United Way Victory Celebration Wednesday, Dec. 3, at SentryWorld in Stevens Point.

The amount surpasses this year’s goal of $2.7 million, and tops last year’s announced amount of $2,768,436. “We are fortunate to live in a community that truly cares about and takes care of one another,” said Chuck Nason, emcee at the Victory Celebration.

This year’s Campaign Drive Chairs – John and Dori Jury – were on hand at the Victory Celebration to talk about their experiences and thank all who helped. John Jury said he was impressed by the entire community’s dedication to helping United Way with the campaign. “Thank you for your time, your talents, your treasures – and for your unwavering belief in LIVING UNITED,” he said.

In addition to the campaign total reveal, the Victory Celebration included the awarding of the TRAVEL UNITED Sweepstakes prizes. A 2015 vehicle donated by Scaffidi Motors was awarded to Angie Myers, a premium audit analyst at Sentry Insurance, during a “game-show”-like portion of the event in which Nason had five finalists select a key and then open their respective doors to see what prize they won. Myers lives in Scandinavia with her husband, Bill, and 8-year-old twin sons, Billy and Burkley.

The other four finalists were DeAnna Helminiak, Plover, who won Green Bay Packers tickets and a $400 Trig’s gift card donated by Ellis Stone Construction Co. and Trig’s; Sarah Kramer, Bancroft, who won a two-night stay at The Landing Resort in Egg Harbor and a $300 gas card donated by The Landing Resort and the Gaboda Family;  Ron Behrens, Wausau, who won a plane trip to anywhere in the continental U.S. donated by Marathon Travel; and Jane Siebert, Stevens Point, who won a $1,000 Amtrak gift certificate and a $500 Visa card donated by Central City Credit Union and Delta Dental.

Representatives from two of United Way of Portage County’s funded programs, Learn for Life and the Boys & Girls of Portage County, presented the final campaign numbers and talked about how their programs are able to help county residents thanks to United Way funding.

United Way of Portage County’s mission is to bring people and resources together to achieve measurable results that improve people’s lives and strengthen the community. It does so by focusing on the building blocks for a better life – education, income, health, and community basics. To learn more, visit www.unitedwaypoco.org.