T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY From left to right, Marshalltown Area United Way Executive Director Kendra Sorensena and 2023-2024 Campaign Co-Chairs Carrie Barr and Kyle Martin pose for a photo at the conclusion of Tuesday night’s annual wrap-up event held at the Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center.

Marshalltown Area United Way Executive Director Kendra Sorensen, flanked by her 2023-2024 campaign co-chairs Carrie Barr and Kyle Martin, put a bow on another successful year of fundraising during a wrap-up event complete with a catered taco bar courtesy of Luisa Ortega held at the Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center (MACC) on Tuesday evening.

With a few weeks to go until the Jan. 3 deadline, the MAUW is just under $30,000 short of its $825,000 goal for the current campaign, and Sorensen and her team are still optimistic they can get over the hump. As in past years, the night was full of recognitions for campaign cabinet members, business partners, new corporate partners and the local media outlets who have helped to spread the organization’s message in raising money for the 28 local partner nonprofit agencies the dollars directly benefit.

Emerson got a shoutout for raising over $47,277 from employees through a combination of old fashioned donations and payroll deductions and more creative events like a chili cookoff and a Mario Kart tournament. Alicia Sears, who served as one of the company’s fundraising chairs, said the theme was a “streaming service” that encouraged employees to “subscribe” by contributing to the campaign, and they even made their own movie trailers to go with it.

“Anybody could basically take that (and) scale it to whatever their workplace is. It hopefully inspires, maybe somebody at a business to do something similar like that,” Sorensen said. “To me, it’s a lot of team building. It creates a positive workplace culture and helps to attract and retain employees. It’s just a fun way for people to get together and cultivate giving back to the community.”

JBS of Marshalltown also received special recognition for its corporate commitment to the United Way — with HR Director Rubi Orbe joking that she didn’t make “a fancy video” but might have to do so in the future — as did the Marshalltown Community School District, whose employees contributed over $14,000 to the campaign, and McFarland Clinic. Four local employers achieved 100 percent employee participation in the campaign: CAPS, United Bank and Trust, the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce and Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Several new leadership circle members were recognized along with the financial institutions that have served as sponsors for all of the luncheons and meals throughout the campaign. United Way Marketing and Events Coordinator Shannon Johnson recapped some of the special events held throughout the year, including trivia night, the golf outing, the ever popular Power of the Purse, which broke an all-time fundraising record this year, and other unique opportunities like the Cheese Shop of DSM fundraiser, Taco John’s night and something that got everyone in the fundraising mood earlier in the fall — Jail and Bail. Overall, Johnson raised over $74,400 from special events, which was almost $25,000 over the $50,000 goal that was set.

Sorensen explained that YSS of Marshall County Director David Hicks offered up the pink jail cell in the organization’s building, which was once home to the Marshalltown Police Department, and she loved it immediately, enlisting various local celebrities and leaders to spend time in lockup and solicit donations to get them out of the slammer.

Sheriff Joel Phillips donated jail jumpsuits, and before long, the Sheriff’s office, the Marshalltown Police Department and the Marshalltown Fire Department were engaged in a friendly competition. While the MPD took an early lead, the MCSO ultimately came out on top after raising nearly $1,000, and Phillips was happy to accept a trophy proclaiming him as the GOAT (greatest of all time) of 2023. Sorensen said she hopes the agencies will compete for the trophy annually going forward, and Cindy Brodin was the top individual jail and bail fundraiser with $660.

Martin, the longtime KFJB host known for his jolly demeanor and near constant stream of jokes, received a gift from Sorensen for his efforts as campaign co-chair that turned out to be a coffee mug she had snatched from his office just to see if he would notice.

“Did you realize it was missing?” she asked.

“I did not, because I never use this mug,” Martin replied.

Sorensen then got more serious as she gave Martin and Barr “real gifts” and reflected on the experience of working with them.

“You guys have been an absolute joy to work with this year. It’s been fun, it’s been lighthearted, and it’s just amazing,” Sorensen said. “So thank you guys very much for all the time you’ve put in… I don’t wanna scare the next co-chairs, but you guys have put in a ton of time and I really do appreciate it.”

While conceding that “no one wants to see it,” Martin then announced to the audience that he would run down Main Street in a Speedo if the $825,000 goal is hit by the Jan. 3 deadline — prompting Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper to respond from the audience that he would instead raise money to pay him not to do it.

Kyley Leger and Kate Bowermaste were announced as the co-chairs for the 2024-2025 campaign. In her closing remarks, Sorensen noted the importance of hitting the fundraising goals each year to sustain the programs the partner agencies offer, even as charitable giving in general has trended downward due to the economic pressures of inflation.

“It’s not just a goal. It’s what it takes,” she said.