Santa Rosa, CA (June 16, 2008) – United Way recently honored local businesses with their annual Community Partnership Awards. Presented at the United Way Campaign Close Celebration held at Ledson Winery, the awards recognize companies and thier employees for excellence in community fundraising, volunteering and advocating.
Medtronic received this year’s highest tribute, the Spirit of the Wine Country Award. Other nominees in the category included Agilent Technologies and County of Sonoma. Through their annual campaign, Medtronic’s Santa Rosa headquarters raised over $313,000 for our local community, a 95% increase over the previous year’s total. More than 400 Medtronic employees participated in the three-week campaign, donating $156,000. With Medtronic’s corporate foundation generously matching employees’ donations dollar for dollar, the local medical technology company raised a record amount.
“Being a good corporate citizen is part of the Medtronic mission and of the business culture in Sonoma County,” said Mark Gaterud, Vice President of Research and Development for Medtronic in Santa Rosa and leader of the company’s local United Way campaign this year. “To us, that means giving back to the communities where we live and work. Our employees, including my R&D colleagues Cathal McNamara and Julie Trudel, greatly appreciate the work of the United Way and humbly accept this award on behalf of Medtronic.”
Redwood Credit Union received the Campaign Excellence Award for campaign results, corporate giving, event sponsorship and employee volunteerism. Other nominees included Exchange Bank and Wells Fargo. Redwood Credit Union increased giving to the annual United Way Campaign by 20%. In addition, 50 Redwood Credit Union employees volunteered for United Way’s Day of Caring and completely renovated the Tamayo House kitchen.
Ukiah Valley Medical Center won the Campaign Momentum Award for significantly improved campaign results. Other nominees included ReTech and Stero. Ukiah Valley Medical Center increased their annual campaign giving by over $16,000.
“We are extremely fortunate to have dedicated, compassionate partners such as Medtronic, Redwood Credit Union and Ukiah Valley Medical Center. Their partnership, along with other local individuals and businesses, is instrumental to our success, and, more importantly, to creating long-lasting changes that will improve lives right here in our community,” said Walter Collins, President and CEO for United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake.
United Way also honored two individuals with awards. Tony Ghisla of Exchange Bank received the Executive Campaign Chair of the Year Award and Susanne Lake with the County of Sonoma received the Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Award.
United Way Campaign Close Celebration was sponsored by Ledson Winery & Vineyards, Agilent Technologies, The Press Democrat, North Bay Business Journal, Hansel Auto Group, Redwood Credit Union, RoliRoti and Oliver’s Market.
Complete listing of award recipients:
* Spirit of the Wine Country Award: Medtronic
* Campaign Excellence Award: Redwood Credit Union
* Campaign Momentum Award: Ukiah Valley Medical Center
* Executive Campaign Chair of the Year: Tony Ghisla of Exchange Bank
* Employee Campaign Leader of the Year: Susanne Lake of County of Sonoma
