United Way of the Mid-South hosts its first awards ceremony for corporate partners and donors who’ve made significant contributions during the prior campaign season
United Way of the Mid-South (UWMS) held its inaugural Best of the Best Awards on May 1st at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN. The overall Best of the Best winners were The Peabody Hotel (small/medium company) and Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (large company).
Best of the Best winners were determined based on the criteria below. The following companies were presented with awards in six categories:
Best Team Effort – Atmos Energy (small/medium company);
Raymond James (large company)
This award recognizes the company with the highest percent participation. Atmos as a 107 percent participation rate; Raymond James employees have a 96 percent participation.
Best Campaign Rookie – Nucor Steel
This award recognizes the company with a first time campaign who raised the most money. Nucor Steel employees raised over $100,000 in their first campaign with 55 percent participation.
Best Campaign Climber – BancorpSouth (small/medium company);
Accredo (large company)
This award recognizes the company with the highest percentage of growth over the prior campaign year. BancorpSouth Memphis employees increased their gifts this year by 49 percent. Accredo increased their gifts by 26.6 percent.
Best Game Changer – Valero
Recognizes the company with the highest percentage of leadership givers, defined as donors who give $500 or more. 67 percent of Valero employees are giving at the leadership level and above. Best Difference Maker – Enterprise Holding
This award recognizes the company that is most engaged in volunteer activities throughout the year. Enterprise Holdings was the first company to create an engagement plan for the year with United Way and heavily participates in volunteer and engagement opportunities including the Fox 13 School Supply Drive. Best Corporate Champion – FedEx
The award recognizes the companies that contributed the highest corporate gift. FedEx consistently contributed $1 million each year, for the past 45 years.
“We are gathered to honor and recognize some very important people who make what we do at United Way possible – You,” said Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D., President and CEO, United Way of the Mid-South. “We believe it is through building relationships and partnerships with corporations and individuals like yourselves that we can drive the dreams of people living in poverty and assist them toward a life of greater self-sufficiency.”
Rev. Robinson also recognized retired Memphis Light, Gas, and Water president and former UWMS chair, Jerry Collins, for his years of service to United Way and the Memphis community. Scott Fountain, Senior Vice President, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, has accepted the appointment of United Way of the Mid-South board chair.
Longtime United Way supporters and board members, J.W. and Kathy Gibson were also acknowledged for contributing $200,000 toward Driving The Dream, a United Way of the Mid-South initiative designed for people in poverty to achieve a life of self-sufficiency.
About United Way of the Mid-South
For 95 years, United Way of the Mid-South’s mission has been to improve the quality of life for Mid-Southerners by mobilizing and aligning community resources to address priority issues in the areas of education, health, and financial stability. In 2016, Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D., President and CEO, announced the organization’s top priority in addressing Mid-South poverty. United Way’s work in education, financial stability, and health brings about positive changes in local poverty as the organization aligns our funding, initiatives, partnerships, and programs in ways that help more people escape poverty.
Learn more about United Way of the Mid-South at www.uwmidsouth.org or via social media @uwmidsouth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn