United Way celebrates 2024 campaign with Victory celebration

More than 300 supporters gathered Thursday, Jan. 23, at Festival Hall to celebrate the organization’s 102nd community campaign for United Way of Racine County’s annual Victory celebration.

United Way President and CEO Ali Haigh, United Way board chair Brian Agen and United Way 2024 campaign chair Jason Greenwood shared highlights of the annual campaign and the impact created by the United Way and the programs and agencies supported by donations to the campaign.

“Because of you, last year, more than 80,000 Racine County residents received the support they needed to help put food on the table, teach their children to read, achieve education credentials, budget, save money, get help for mental health concerns, and so much more,” Haigh told attendees. “[Victory] is an opportunity for us to reflect on and thank your amazing supporters, partners and volunteers.”

Several organizations and individuals were honored with the following awards:

  • Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year is awarded to the person who led a successful company campaign. The 2024 winner is:
    • Amanda Kivenas, Johnson Financial Group
  • Live United Award is presented to a company that is a year-round champion of United Way. The 2024 winner is:
    • SC Johnson
  • The Michael Batten Advancing the Common Good Award honors a person who shows leadership in the community through personal philanthropy and committed volunteerism. The award is named after former Twin Disc CEO Michael Batten, a longtime Racine County civic and business leader. This year’s awarded honored:
    • Jonathan Delagrave, the late county executive. The award was accepted by Jim Ladwig/
  • The Chairman’s Award is given to a company that has shown long-standing support for United Way of Racine County. This year’s Chairman’s Award was presented to:
    • Modine

United Way of Racine County celebrated its 2024 impact, including that more than 80,000 Racine County residents were served by United Way-led or United Way-funded programs.

A video honoring the retirement of Racine County Food Bank director Dan Taivalkoski and Racine Vocational Ministry director Jim Schatzman was also shared with the crowd. The two men retired from the longtime United Way partner organizations.

Agen also presented Greenwood, who is president of AMI Information Systems, with a plaque honoring him for his work as 2024 campaign chair. He also announced the name of the chair for the 2025 community campaign. Hope Otto, Human Services Director for Racine County, will serve as 2025 campaign chair for United Way of Racine County.