United Way of Southwest Michigan Recognizes Community Contributions with Evening of Gratitude Awards
UWSM is very grateful to the community and honored to recognize all those who support our work.
Volunteer Recognition Awards
Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award
Winner: Ren Baldwin
As a former St. Joseph Public Schools staff member, Ren's knowledge of the district is invaluable to the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation. Ren has served as both Treasurer and President of the Lions Club. He continues to serve the community on projects that support services aimed at helping people with sight and hearing deficiencies, as well as supporting services to Juvenile Diabetes organizations. Ren is also involved with Camp Leo, a residential overnight camp for children 10-17 with disabilities from Southwest Michigan and helps lead the Lions’ Annual Arts and Craft Show. He previously served as Treasurer of the Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning, and has served 30+ years as a Board Member, President and Treasurer.
For the winner of this great honor, $5000 will be donated to the nonprofit organization of his choice. The monetary portion of this award is being provided by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation.
Finalists: Bernice Mason, Larry Wozniak
Judge Susan L. Dobrich Volunteer Leadership Award for Cass County
In partnership with United Way, the McLoughlin Family Foundation created this award in 2022 to recognize Judge Dobrich’s leadership in Cass County and to honor other leaders like her within the county who exemplify tremendous leadership through volunteerism.
Winner: Sara Hartsell
Sara has served as a champion for Relay for Life in Cass County and for the Relay for Life team at Midwest Energy & Communications as its Chair. She has a heart for her community and exemplifies that through her work-related volunteering but also as a volunteer on her own time. She’s a “Band Mom”, helps with the 4H club, and has volunteered for San’s Workshop and the Pet Refuge. Her volunteer efforts include Trunk or Treats, blood drives, movie nights and helping to write school grants.
For the winner of this great honor, $3,500 will be donated to a nonprofit that serves Cass County residents. The monetary portion of this award is being provided by the McLoughlin Family Foundation.
Finalists: Roseann Marchetti, Walter Swann
LIVE UNITED Award
The LIVE UNITED award was created in 2005 to recognize organizations or individuals who truly embody the mission, vision, and goals of United Way, and who live out the motto: Give, Advocate, and Volunteer.
Kinexus Group
Amberdeep Aurora, Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Community Commitment Award
This Award is named after Whirlpool Corporation and its employees. The prestigious award has been established to recognize organizations and their employees whose dedication to community is unparalleled. Winners of this award are truly exceptional in how they give back. They have a long-standing history of creating significant impact in Southwest Michigan or display a strong sense of service within Southwest Michigan and the communities in their company’s entire footprint.
Lake Michigan College
David J. Weichhand Award
Named after the late President and CEO of United Federal Credit Union, this special award honors a company that infuses the same creativity and imagination into their employee campaigns that Dave did at United Federal -- by going above and beyond what is expected to make the campaign fun, exciting, inspirational and ultimately successful.
Indiana Michigan Power’s Cook Nuclear Plant
Employee Campaign Coordinators of the Year
Karen Heath, Berrien RESA
Susan Eastman, Lake Michigan College
Shana Bae, Ausco Products
Kelsey Makela, Insurance Management Services
Excellence in Impact
This award recognizes an organization or individual who created significant impact in the last year and embodies the mission, vision, and goals of United Way. The winners demonstrate how we can and should fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.
Benton Harbor Community Development Corporation
Curt VanderWaal, Andrews University
United Advocacy Award
The United Advocacy Award recognizes individuals who take significant advocacy actions in the last year. United Way defines Advocacy as: “Actions taken in order to effect change for a cause we are invested in and educating the public and decision-makers about the importance of an
issue.” The winner of this award will have demonstrated a large scope of work, either by creating a large amount of change or by working with a large number of people.
Danielle Persky, Van Buren/Cass District Health Department
Guy Miller, Berrien County Health Department
Campaign Champions
The following companies and organizations were recognized as Campaign Champions:
Ausco Products
Niles Community Schools
VAIL Rubber Works
United Federal Credit Union
Bronson Healthcare Group
Coloma Community Schools
Andrews University
Vomela Transportation Graphics
Western Diversified Plastics/Engineered Plastic Services
K&M Machine-Fabricating, Inc.
Competitive Edge, LLC
Corewell Health South
The 2024 Evening of Gratitude awards can be viewed at uwsm.org/evening-of-gratitude.
ABOUT UNITED WAY
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education, and Financial Stability of every person in every community. We have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners, we provide immediate assistance to our most vulnerable populations while addressing the root causes of our community's longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy, and volunteering—visit www.uwsm.org.
###