FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 21, 2019

Contact:

Sam Skinner

Executive Director, Twin County United Way

Cell: (208) 305-1379, e-mail: [email protected]

Twin County United Way office: (208) 743-6594

United Way’s Annual Banquet Celebrated Last Year While Looking to the Year Ahead

Second year of two-year Community Fund grants total than $450,000

LEWISTON – Twin County United Way celebrated the 2018 giving campaign, recognized volunteers and supporters, announced new officers and confirmed 2019-2020 Community Fund grant recipients at its annual banquet breakfast on Thursday, June 20, at the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston.

The annual event, presented by P1FCU and Tri-State Memorial Hospital, kicked off with the announcement of the Volunteer of the Year and Spirit of Caring awards. Volunteer of the Year awards were presented to Gary Bergen (Team BMC Century 21) and Carlie Welch (Clearwater Paper).  Red Lion Hotel, Avista, Joe Hall Ford and Clearwater Paper were awarded Spirit of Caring awards, recognizing the businesses’ outstanding support for the Twin County United Way and care for the community.

The United Way thanked and recognized several volunteers who were instrumental in advocating for United Way and raising funds during the 2018 campaign.  These included The Hall Family, Joe and Kelly and Nick and Shelby Hall, who were the 2018 Honorary Campaign Chairs; Crystal Nelson (Wells Fargo), the board campaign chair; and local loaned executives who volunteer to support the campaign along with the organizations and businesses that “loan” these executives to the United Way. Additionally, Corporate Champions, businesses who help cover the administration costs of the United Way were recognized.

More than 2,500 donors contributed to the annual giving campaign. Donors can select specific nonprofit organizations to receive their donations or select the United Way Community Fund.  Donations contributed to the United Way’s Community Fund support education, income and health. Thirty-three grants totaling more than $450,000 will be dispersed July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 during the second year of the two-year Community Fund grants. Priority was given to local nonprofit programs working to promote grade-level reading by third grade, improve the financial stability of struggling households and reduce the local death by suicide rates.

Twin County United Way board members Susan Colburn (St. Joseph Regional Medical Center) and Tim Barker (City of Lewiston) were recognized for 10 years of board service and Charity Rapier was recognized for five years of service.  Bev Kloepfer (Lewis-Clark State College) was recognized with the Time, Treasure and Talent award for more than 10 years of board service combined with 10 years of leadership-level giving. Additionally, Nelson was named Board Member of the Year and Nick Hall (Joe Hall Ford) was named Rookie Board Member of the Year.

The event wrapped up with the passing of gavel from current board president, Kim Casey (Avista), to incoming board president, Scott Corbitt (Sweitzer Engineering Laboratories). Casey will now serve on the executive committee as past president while Travis Myklebust (Lewiston Fire Dept.) will serve as Vice-President, Katie Deibel (Vista Outdoor) as Secretary and Troy Sandvick (P1FCU) as Treasurer. The officers’ two-year term will begin July 1.

The Twin County United Way runs on a fiscal year beginning July 1 to June 30 and released its 2018-2019 Annual Report.

2018-2020 Twin County United Way nonprofit partners receiving grants include:

• Area Agency on Aging
• Asotin County Food Bank
• Boy Scouts, Inland Northwest Council
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lewis-Clark Valley
• Community Action Partnership
• Family Promise of the Lewis-Clark Valley
• Friends of the Lewiston City Library
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
• Homes of Hope
• The Idaho Foodbank
• Idaho Legal Aid Services
• Interlink Volunteers
• The Learning Club
• Lewis-Clark Special Olympics
• Lewis-Clark Valley YoungLife
• Quality Behavioral Health
• Royal Family KIDS Camp
• 2nd Judicial District CASA
• Snake River Community Clinic
• Southeast Washington Aging & Long-Term Care
• Twin River Special Olympics
• Valley Meals on Wheels
• WA-ID Volunteer Center
• Willow Center for Grieving Children
• YWCA of Lewiston/Clarkston

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About the Twin County United Way

The mission of the Twin County United Way is to identify needs, unite people and share resources to improve lives in Nez Perce and Asotin counties. The United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability for every person in every community. More information can be found at www.tcuw.org. Connect with Twin County United on social media at www.facebook.com/TwinCountyUW, on Twitter @TwinCountyUW or on Instagram TCUW, #TCUW #LiveUnited.