United Way commemorates 100th campaign with Centennial Victory celebration

Jan. 20, 2023 (Racine, WI) — On Thursday, Jan. 19, more than 250 United Way supporters gathered at Fountain Hall to celebrate 100 years of impact in the Racine County community.

The night began with networking and the chance to play United Way trivia. Over dinner, attendees learned more about United Way’s impactful history, current work and the individuals and companies who made it all possible from United Way of Racine County 2022 Campaign Co-Chairs John Batten and Christopher Ruud, 2021-23 United Way of Racine County Board Chair Ralph Malicki and United Way of Racine County President and CEO Ali Haigh.

Haigh shared some details on the success of United Way’s centennial year. In just its centennial year alone, United Way ran its Centennial Sweepstakes, sponsored by the Andis Foundation, completed a Valentine’s Day fundraiser and a mini golf outing and hosted a luncheon for past United Way board and campaign chairs. United Way also officially opened its new Equity Innovation Fund and expended the entirety of its Training and Technology Fund. The Training and Technology Fund and Equity Innovation Fund were made possible thanks to the generosity of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

“Together, we have accomplished a lot not only in our centennial year, but throughout our entire history,” Haigh told attendees. “We’ve shown time and again that we are an organization dedicated to the betterment of our community thanks to our partners, volunteers, donors and all of our supporters.”

Later in the evening, several organizations and individuals were honored with the following awards:

  • 2022 ECC of the Year Award
    • Andrew Goetz — Racine County
  • 2022 Live United Award
    • BeLEAF Survivors
  • 2022 Michael Batten Advancing the Common Good Award
    • Dr. Bryan Albrecht
  • 2022 Chairman's Club Award
    • Educators Credit Union
  • 2022 Campaign Chair Award
    • John Batten
    • Christopher Ruud

The evening ended with a heartfelt thank you to the community for supporting 100 years of impact and the reveal of United Way’s 2023 campaign chair – Linda Hoover, chief executive officer and president of Educators Credit Union.

To learn more about United Way’s work as it begins working towards its next 100 years of impact, visit: UnitedWayRacine.org/Our-Work.