United Way couldn’t do the hard work of fighting poverty in central Ohio without the incredible energy and support our corporate partners put into their workplace campaigns. These 400+ partners inspire and amaze us with their dedication to improving the community all year round. Even so, Heartland Bank managed to turn more than a few heads with its impressive 2017 campaign numbers.
“Heartland employees stepped up for this year’s campaign and blew our giving projections out of the water,” said Amie Grubbs, United Way’s relationship manager for the Heartland campaign. “It’s exciting to see that growth, and I can’t wait to see where our partnership continues to take us.”
Heartland’s employee contributions increased by more than 94% over the previous year’s campaign. Participation among the company’s 175 associates increased more than 19%, and the average gift size went up by 42%. The company’s transition from paper pledges to ePledge, United Way’s electronic pledging system, was a major factor to the overall success of the campaign, said Grubbs.
But ePledge was not the only reason behind the surge. According to Angela Brown, Heartland’s volunteer Employee Campaign Coordinator since 2013, management and the CEO also helped elevate contributions by consistently communicating the importance of United Way’s mission and its alignment with Heartland’s mission.
“Heartland understands we can make an impact by involving ourselves within the community,” Brown shared. “But by partnering with United Way, we can make an even larger impact to the community and to individuals.”
In addition to its annual workplace campaign, Heartland Bank generously donated its digital billboard at State and High streets in downtown Columbus for United Way to promote an end-of-year giving campaign in 2016. The in-kind donation was valued at $22,000! Thank you, to Heartland Bank and its employees for being hand raisers and game changers in the fight against poverty in our community.
Heartland Bank currently has14 locations spread out between Franklin, Licking and Fairfield counties. In addition to joining United Way, the bank and its employees partner with local communities through participation in events, volunteering for local shelter and community clean-ups, donations to local food pantries and animal shelters, and by providing financial literacy opportunities for adults and children.
