While our community continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for supportive programs, like those offered by the United Way of Central Iowa, is greater than ever. Our annual United Way of Central Iowa campaign provides an opportunity for Ruan team members to give back to their community and get involved in volunteer programs led by the organization.
Similar to last year, our 2021 campaign was held virtually. Even though we were not able to gather in person, we still had record-breaking fundraising from our team members! With Ruan’s dollar-for-dollar company match, we raised $300,000 for the United Way of Central Iowa. Due to the generous giving of our team members, United Way of Central Iowa is able to fund 165 programs. These programs include a newly created hotline (United Way 211) in which trained specialists will field phone calls for COVID-19 related concerns, as well as respond to texts and online messages to assist those in need with things like food, rent assistance, crisis intervention, and more. Additionally, the United Way of Central Iowa has dedicated $1.8 million to help central Iowa recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our virtual campaign included an online silent auction and virtual happy hours for young professionals interested in joining LINC, United Way’s young professional’s affinity group. More than 600 team members placed bids in our silent auction. Thanks to donations from local businesses and our generous vendors, we raised more than $13,000 from the silent auction alone! We also increased our LINC participation by more than 65 percent. More than 50 Ruan team members will now have the opportunity to volunteer in the community, participate in networking events, and help Ruan’s young professional network continue to expand.
“We are so proud of our team members for stepping up and giving generously during this challenging time for our country. As a company, we are committed to giving back to those in need, and that still rings true nearly 90 years later,” said Ruan Senior Vice President and campaign co-chair Chris Fish. “These donations will go far in our community and help those who need it most.”