February 2025

Wow! Thanks to your generosity, we raised an astonishing $954,500 for the Columbus Area United Way! Every dollar will go toward improving education, health, and financial stability right here in our community. Your support changes lives, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

We also want to recognize the incredible businesses and employees who rallied behind this mission. Below is a list of companies with outstanding participation, each contributing a minimum gift of $500. Thank you for believing in this work and showing up for those who need it most!

Gold Level Supporters

Companies with 60% or more participation

Aksarben Mortgage
Ameriprise Financial
Colegrove Counseling Center, LLC
Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
Columbus Area United Way
Columbus Bank and Trust Company
Columbus Family YMCA
Columbus Public Schools
Cornerstone Bank
D. A. Davidson & Co.
Edgewater Insurance
First Interstate Bank

First National Bank of Omaha
First Nebraska Bank
Great Plains State Bank
Jones Group
Mid-America Research Chemical Corp
Nebraska Realty
Northwestern Mutual
OneNebraska Federal Credit Union
Pillen Family Farms/DNA Genetics
Pinnacle Bank - Columbus
Red Door Designs
Schumacher, Smejkal, & Elm, P.C.
Union Bank & Trust Loan Office

Silver Level Supporters

Companies with 50% or more participation

Audio-Logic, P.C.
BankFirst
Central Confinement Service LLC
FLEXcon Manufacturing

Tessendorf & Tessendorf, P.C.
Tessendorf Chiropractic
Tremel Surveying, Inc

So, what’s next? Now comes the exciting part! The Board will meet to review program applications, assessments, and impact, determining how funds will be allocated to our partner agencies. Stay tuned to find out how your dollars will make a difference in 2025!

Jasper Owens- Nebraska Realty

Jasper Owens is an #iPLEDGE supporter! What does that mean? It means that a portion of her sales support local programming through the Columbus Area United Way. Whether you're buying or selling, your experience will ge a great one, and it will #dogood at the same time.

Big Apple Bagels

February is for bagels! Big Apple Bagels is donating 10% of sales this month to support Columbus Area United Way! So go grab your favorite bagel (or muffin, or coffee, or sandwich) and help support your local community!

Join the #iPLEDGE 2025 movement!

We’re inviting even more businesses and professionals to join us in this innovative campaign. Together, we can make an even greater difference. Ready to be part of something amazing? Let’s do it!

#iPLEDGE

Roberta Miksch, CFP Director

In case you couldn’t attend, the virtual CFP collaborative meeting held last week revolved around supporting and preparing families who may be affected by possible deportation due to undocumented status. We heard from two agencies that are doing amazing work educating people and preparing families: the Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement (CIRA) and Centro Hispano.

Here’s a few nuggets of information that might be helpful to you with this topic.

Know Your Rights red cards can be ordered from https://www.redcardorders.com You can also print your own cards.

Choose your words wisely. Be very considerate of the language you use on this topic, especially when it comes to youth.

Ensure the information your agency shares are reliable and accurate. Refer to Centro Hispanos website https://www.centrohispanos.com/ or call their office for more information at 402.564.2110.

Centro Hispano offers Know Your Rights training/presentations for organizations and community members. Reach out to them if you’d like training or a presentation!

Our communities thrive when our children and families thrive. Thank you for being partners as we help our families thrive!