United Way recently presented its corporate partners with the Power of Community Awards! These awards honor YOUR hard work and generosity over the last year and celebrate all we have accomplished together through the Power of Community. Campaign Co-Chairs, Piet and Julian Dossche, along with President Amanda Burt, thanked all the CEOs, campaign teams, and employees who supported United Way by giving, advocating, and volunteering. In 2022, over 10,000 people in Whitfield and Murray counties made the decision to donate to United Way of Northwest Georgia to create a better community where everyone can thrive. On behalf of those individuals and families who will have their lives forever changed by your generosity, we say thank you. Congratulations to ALL our award-winning companies.
United Way’s mission is simple: Improving Lives. Inspiring Donors. Uniting Community. We connect people in need with people who can help through the building blocks of a good life - Education, Basic Needs, and Health. Over 40,000 lives are impacted by United Way in Whitfield and Murray counties each year.
At United Way, one thing was clear in 2022 as we continued to help our community build a brighter future: You were the driving force behind our work. You changed lives every single day with your generosity. Through the Power of Community, you moved our community forward. Whether it was volunteering for one of our service projects, making a gift to our community campaign, or lending your voice to advocate for change, your support made a huge difference. Our community is special and powerful when United! United Way is thankful to all the donors, volunteers, and community partners who continue to believe in United Way’s mission.
This past year we were grateful to have six new companies joining in support of United Way, either through a corporate gift or an employee campaign. To all the people, organizations, and companies of all sizes who stepped up to support United Way in 2022, we thank you for your commitment to making Whitfield and Murray counties a better place for us all. You did not respond with “if”, but rather, “how” - can I help. This is what makes our community so special. The Power of Community is evident in our community, and we are so lucky to have your continued support.
United Way thanks and recognizes our outgoing committee chairs and Board Members:
• Piet Dossche, 2022 Campaign Co-Chair
• Julian Dossche, 2022 Campaign Co-Chair
• Juan Martinez, Young Leaders Society Co-Chair, 2020-2022.
• Tim Baucom, Board of Directors, 2016-2022
• Jeff Browne, Board of Directors, 2016-2022
• Sandee Hooper, Board of Directors, 2016-2022
• Debbie Macon, Board of Directors, 2018-2022
• Kim Thames, Board of Directors, 2017-2022
• Rod Wedemeier, Board of Directors, 2016-2022
These volunteers have been very dedicated to the mission of United Way. Thank you all for your time and for having a passion for United Way!
Piet and Julian Dossche led a robust campaign and raised over $4.15 million for our local community!! Julian shared, “I want to take a second to thank all the CEOs, our all-star campaign cabinet, and all the volunteers at the companies and organizations across Whitfield and Murray counties who signed up to be campaign coordinators. We couldn’t have done it without your hard work and dedication! Each year that I’ve been involved with the United Way campaign, and especially this year being the Campaign Co-Chair with my dad, Piet Dossche, I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of this community. It’s been so rewarding to see firsthand how much this community cares. Our community is remarkable.”
United Way annually awards corporate partners for reaching Strategic Giving Levels, achieving 5-Star Champion status, and earning top ranks.
United Way 5-Star Champion Award Commitments:
1. Make a CEO gift and a corporate pledge.
2. Choose a dynamic Campaign Coordinator and team.
3. Allow employees to go on United Way Impact Tours.
4. Host leadership and company-wide campaign meetings with dollars up over last year and report to United Way by October 31st.
5. Encourage employees to volunteer with United Way.
United Way Strategic Partner Levels
• $25K Community Champion
• $50K Community Collaborator
• $100k Community Patron
• $250K Community Samaritan
• $500K Community Builder
• $1 Million Community Pillar
2021-2022 United Way Corporate Awards
Advanced Insurance Strategies: Small Business Influencer Award
Americhem: Highest Participation Award
BDL Advisors: Small Business Influencer Award
Carpet and Rug Institute: All-Star Award
City of Dalton: All-Star Award
Dalton Asic Repair: Newcomer Award
Dalton Utilities: Community Collaborator Award
Dorsett Industries: 5-Star Champion & Community Patron Award
Eclectic 79: Newcomer Award
Engineered Floors: Community Builder Award
Family Support Council: All-Star Award
Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce: All-Star Award
Hernandez Roofing & Construction and Magañas Liquor: Newcomer Award
Huali Floors: 5-Star Champion Award
Marketing Alliance Group: 5-Star Champion, Community Patron, Largest Percentage Growth, and Power of Community Award
Material Handling Inc.: Community Collaborator Award
Mohawk Industries: Community Builder Award
Morgan-Lee Supply: Newcomer Award
Phenix Flooring: 5-Star Champion Award
Shaw Industries: Community Pillar Award
Starr Mathews: Newcomer
Textile Management Associates: 5-Star Champion, Community Patron, & Largest Dollar Increase Award
Textile Rubber & Chemical Company: Community Patron Award
The Minor Firm: Small Business Influencer Award
The New Flat Rate: Small Business Influencer Award
Truist: Community Champion Award
White’s Collision: Newcomer Award
Whitfield County Schools: Impact Award
What’s on the horizon for 2023 and how can you get involved? Kevin Wright will follow Piet and Julian as the 2023 United Way Campaign Chair. Volunteers interested in helping Kevin, or companies interested in setting up a new campaign, can contact Amy Ross at 706.529.1592 or amy.ross@ourunitedway.org.
Visit ourunitedway.org to learn how to give, advocate, and volunteer and to view United Way’s Annual Impact Report. Don’t miss out – follow us on social media. Search United Way of Northwest Georgia on Facebook or @UnitedWayNWGA on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok for updates.