Great Things Are Happening in Our Community
BY CHRISTINE ROBERE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, UNITED WAY OF THE LAKESHORE
Happy 100th Birthday to United Way of the Lakeshore!
Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate our 100th birthday at our May 10 Celebration! It was a great event, with over 450 attending to help us look back at 100 years of caring along the lakeshore.
After a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce to get things started, guests took a walk through history while enjoying delicious hors d’ oeuvres and desserts, including a birthday cake that was a gift from Rykes.
History boards highlighted key moments in our rich history, from our beginnings as the War Chest, while volunteers dressed as iconic figures from Muskegon’s history mingled with the crowd. After looking back at the past, guests could help fundraise for the future with a silent auction and raffle, with lots of fun items. A program on the main stage of the Frauenthal Center featured a look at 2017 campaign results and contributors, along with song and dance numbers from local talent.
Special recognition was given to our Community Builder Award Winners: Mercy Health, Muskegon Intermediate School District, and Nichols; to our Spirit of the Lakeshore Award Winner: ADAC Automotive; and to our Legacy of Caring Award Winner: The Cannon Family Fund.
The 100 Year tribute video created by Mike Vogas of Benchmark Productions was premiered at the event; Mike spent countless volunteer hours interviewing United Way of the Lakeshore supporters and digging through archives to weave together a memorable look at our 100 years of impact.
We’d like to say a big thank you to all the wonderful volunteers, staff, donors, and sponsors who helped make the event a success! To view the video and hear more about our 100 Years of caring, visit UnitedWayLakeshore.org/100years.
Recognizing Volunteering. Volunteers’ giving of their time and talent is one of the most important ways that United Way is able to inspire change and build thriving communities. Recently, some special people who give back to our community in so many ways, including as United Way of the Lakeshore donors and volunteers, were honored with awards for their service.
Above, Craig and Jean Weirich.
Craig and Jean Weirich were the well-deserved recipients of the “2018 Muskegon Outstanding Citizenship Award.” Nominated by the United Way of the Lakeshore President Christine Robere, and RSVP Director La Tonya Beene, the Weirich's humbly represent the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) by volunteering their service throughout the community at Senior Resources, the Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts, the American Red Cross, Michigan State University's Alumni Association, and United Way's Retiree Group, United After Work. On May 10, the Weirichs were presented a plaque from the City of Muskegon at the Muskegon Chapter Rotary Club Meeting. We are so proud of them and all of their hard work!
Above, Mary Payne. Below, John Noling.
United Way is proud to recognize two leaders from Muskegon chosen by the Governor for his 2018 Volunteer Service Awards — Mary Payne, Senior Volunteer Award and John Noling, Youth Mentor Award. On behalf of the Community Engagement Committee of United Way of the Lakeshore, we salute them for their work to help build a thriving community! The Governor's Service Award winners are individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations that were selected for their commitment to volunteerism, service or philanthropy.
Read more about the honor and about Mary and John’s contributions here.
Above, Family Circus' Jeff Keane's nod to the annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. Below, "Stamp Out Hunger" volunteers.
26th Annual Food Drive Collects Nearly 60,000 pounds of Food! Thank you to our community for contributing to the annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive! United Way is proud to partner with the United States Postal Service, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, UFCW, AFL-CIO, Valpak, Valassis, and our local food pantries to help “Stamp Out Hunger”! And a big thank you to all the volunteers who spent their Saturday gathering food along the routes, then unloading and sorting the donations for delivery to our local pantries.
Don’t Forget to Sign Up to Ride United! United Way of the Lakeshore’s seventh annual Ride United bike event will take place June 16, 2018. Riders will bike six, 25, 50, and 100 mile routes that begin and end at the corner of Third and Clay in downtown Muskegon, also the site of the annual Taste of Muskegon event.
To learn more and get registered, visit RideMI.org. Registration is $35 with a wicking shirt or $75 with a professional rider jersey. Proceeds from the event will benefit programs that promote healthy and safe families in Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties.
United Way of the Lakeshore is uniting to inspire change and build thriving communities. Our Bold Goal – 10,000 more working families meet their basic needs by 2025. For more information, contact United Way of the Lakeshore at (231) 722-3134. Learn more about United Way of the Lakeshore at UnitedWayLakeshore.org, like the organization on Facebook and receive up to date information from Twitter at twitter.com/uwlakeshore.
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