United Way Celebrates Workplace Campaign Awards

United Way of Greater Topeka celebrated its 2021-22 campaign Tuesday evening at Townsite Avenue Ballroom.  Emcee and UWGT Board member Trey George revealed that donors had given $1,981,218.13 to support the nonprofit’s work in community building, volunteerism, education, financial stability and health.  

This year’s total represents an increase of $123,000 from the previous campaign. One-hundred-fifty  workplaces  and 5,410 donors contributed to the organization’s strongest campaign performance in the past eight years. 

UWGT CEO Jessica Lehnherr said, “These campaign results are a testament to the giving nature of our community and the trust our donors have placed in United Way of Greater Topeka’s vision for a strong, healthy and equitable community. These dollars come at a critical time in our community—we’re ready to work together with our partners to move our community forward.”   

To put that amount in perspective, those dollars could: 

Allow agencies to provide 100,000 meals in our community, including meals for seniors who not only get access to a healthy meal, but also receive a valuable safety and wellness check Ensure that 1,000 individuals have access to the resources they need to be financially stable, including financial literacy experiences for students and financial counseling for adults Provide 245 students access to after-school tutoring and other resources to stay on track in reading and math.

George said during the announcement: “Your dollars support our neighbors from before they are born to after they retire. They create and cultivate an unbreakable network of support, not just for those facing crisis, but for all of us.” 

George also presented five awards to companies and individuals who went above and beyond for this year’s campaign, which officially ended June 30. 

The awards and winners are: 

“You did WHAT?!” Award
Robinson Middle School 

Award description: Who has the most amazing, impactful or unique special event as part of their workplace campaign? Did you make your CEO spend a morning on the roof or kiss a pig or a frog when you reached your company goal? This award recognizes fun and creative events that motivate employee participation and giving.  

Momentum Award

Laird Noller Ford Topeka
Award description: Did you race past last year’s campaign total or set a record for participation? This award recognizes outstanding campaign growth, either in dollars or in percent participation. Moving the needle on either of those metrics is tough, and you deserve to be celebrated when you make it happen! 

ABC (Anything But COVID) Award
Hill’s Pet Nutrition
Award description: Just like we adapted the name of this award this year, we know many companies had to shift gears in the wake of COVID-19 to come up with new and fun events that can take place in the digital world. Maybe you came up with a way to utilize Zoom or Microsoft teams to conduct events? Maybe you incorporated your employee’s work-from-home set-ups into your campaign? This award recognizes the company with the most innovative approach to conducting their campaign in the virtual workplace. 

Hand Raiser Award
Jamie Cox, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas
Award description: Do you have an employee who tirelessly goes above and beyond to make your United Way campaign happen each year? This award recognizes an outstanding individual (be they a Campaign Coordinator, Campaign Committee member, or other member of your team) without whom your campaign just wouldn’t happen. 

People’s Choice Award
Polo Custom Products
Award description: Members of the public had the opportunity to nominate small and large businesses for the People’s Choice Award, the winner was chosen by guests at Campaign Celebration. This award recognizes a company whose leader provides extraordinary support for their workplace campaign. Our strongest campaigns have buy-in and support from their CEO and other top leadership. This award recognizes that high level of commitment.  

Trey George was also announced a few weeks ago as the 2022-23 UWGT Campaign Chair. He will be assisted by Vice Chair Lindsay Freeman when the campaign begins to hit its stride this August.  

Any company interested in running a United Way workplace campaign can contact Marty Hillard, Director of Workplace Campaigns at mhillard@unitedwaytopeka.org. 

Individual donations can be made online anytime at GiveTopeka.org or can be mailed to United Way at  

United Way of Greater Topeka 

1527 SW Fairlawn Rd. 

Topeka, KS 66604