Volunteers Gather To Make A Difference In The Community

Approximately 215 volunteers gathered on Saturday, October 27, 2012, to make a difference in the community. Volunteers raked 42 lawns for elderly and disabled residents whom were unable to care for their lawns on their own. In addition to helping local residents with their lawns, a few members of the Marshfield High School Student Council helped label books United Way purchased with grant money received from Gannett and the Marshfield News Herald. The books will be distributed to area children through Marshfield Area United Way's new partnership with the Marshfield Clinic's Reach Out and Read Program.

View Make A Difference Day photos.

United Way Support Sealed with a Kiss

Al Nystrom, 2012 United Way Co-Drive Chair, makes good on a bet and kisses the pig!

Al Nystrom, Bank President at BMO Harris Bank in Marshfield and one of this year’s co-chairs for Marshfield’s United Way campaign, recently found himself  puckering up to a pig. This past Sunday, the two BMO Harris Bank locations concluded a friendly competition that was sealed with a kiss.

Brad Guse, Bank Vice President, represented the north-side location and challenged Al and the 4th Street location to see what branch could raise the most money. The loser would have to kiss a pig. Needless to say the north-side location raised the most money and consequently, Al owned up to his end of the bet.

The competition, alone, brought in over $1100 for BMO’s United Way campaign. Al took time after his kiss with the pig to thank all the employees for their effort and support during their campaign this year. BMO’s campaign has raised over $10,000 this year. A 72% increase from their previous year’s campaign.

Marshfield Area United Way’s campaign is well underway. Currently, United Way is at 23% of the 2012 goal of $915,000. The funds raised this year will support thirty local human service programs that focus on providing basic needs to families and individuals, supporting local youth and helping them achieve their greatest potential, and promoting financial stability and independence for families and seniors. You can learn more about any of these programs by visiting marshfieldareaunitedway.org.

To contribute to this year’s campaign, you can also visit Marshfield Area United Way’s website and securely give your gift electronically. Donations can also be mailed in to Marshfield Area United Way, PO Box 771, Marshfield, WI, 54449 or be dropped off at the United Way office at 156 S Central Ave. Please call United Way with any questions at 715-384-9992.

9-Pin Tap Fundraiser and Tailgate Party

On December 2, 2012, Marshfield Area United Way will be holding the 2nd Annual 9-Pin Tap fundraiser at Rose Bowl Lanes. Bowling will start at 12:00 pm with team registration beginning at 11:00 am. United Way is currently looking for teams to participate in the event. Availability is limited to the first twenty-four paid teams of five to six persons per lane. Registered teams will pay $50 per team if signed up before November 23, 2012, and $60 per team after the 23rd. Each team member will receive a FREE t-shirt.

In addition to the bowling fundraiser this year, there will also be a tailgate party at the bowling alley on this day. The tailgate party will be from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. For $10, party-goers will receive a 16 oz. Green Bay Packer glass and all the food and drink they want during the game. Brats, chips, and side dishes will be served and drink choices include beer or soda.

There will be a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and also many great raffle prizes. Some of the raffle prizes include: a Weber grill, an autographed Green Bay Packer football, men’s Badger basketball tickets, men’s Badger Hockey tickets and two Indoor Club Seat tickets to the Packers vs. Lions game on December 9, 2012.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will be put toward the 2012 campaign funds and help support thirty local human service programs next year. United Way is also looking for sponsors for this event. If your business is interested in becoming a sponsor, please call United Way at 715-384-9992 for more information.

WIPEOUT For United Way

Inflatable bounce-houses have been one of the most popular sources of child entertainment for years and years. Well, this is your chance to relive some of your best childhood memories. On October 12, 2012, Wipeout for United Way will be held at the Marshfield Middle School Track starting at 3:30 pm.

The event invites all friendly, competitive community members, businesses and organizations to engage in head-to-head competition and race in the dual-lane, ninety-nine foot, inflatable obstacle course. Some local businesses have already organized teams and issued public challenges to their competition. While some prefer to challenge outside competition or to challenge one another within their own organization, Marshfield Area United Way encourages anyone interested in having some care-free, light-hearted fun to round-up a team and run the course! Marshfield Area United Way will schedule race times for anyone wishing to join in the fun and participate.

Four-person teams will be facing-off throughout the afternoon until the championship round is determined. The fastest times will make it to the final round and each team will have an opportunity for a “fifth” man that has the potential to be a real game-changer. For every additional one-hundred dollars teams raise for United Way, five seconds will be marked off their total race time making for a very interesting competition.

Marshfield Area United Way is calling out bankers, realtors, doctors, teachers, dentists, downtown businesses, United Way partner programs, car dealerships, restaurants, bars, convenience stores, insurance agents, student councils/organizations or clubs, the University, Mid State Technical College, the Fire Department, the Police Department, and the entire community to accept the challenge and prove you have what it takes to Wipeout the rest of the competition.

The entry fee is one-hundred dollars per team. Anyone under the age of eighteen wishing to compete must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, please call 715-384-9992 or visit marshfieldareaunitedway.org. To sign your team up, call United Way at the number above or email unitedway@tznet.com with your team name, contact person and email as well as a desired race time between 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The deadline to register your team is October 5, 2012.

Marshfield Area United Way would like to thank Security Health Plan for sponsoring this new, fun community event. All proceeds will be put toward the 2012 United Way Campaign and help support thirty human service programs in 2013.

Campaign Kickoff Impactful

Last week, approximately 125 members of the community gathered to officially kick-off the 2012 United Way Campaign. The program was led by this year’s Campaign Drive Chairs Al and Amy Nystrom and was peppered with emotion, motivation, and inspiration.

The Campaign Drive Chairs shared their passion for leading this year’s campaign and how they want to make it very personal. Al and Amy want people to understand that giving through United Way is about reaching out and lifting up your fellow community members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Amy added the importance of giving while you can because tomorrow you may be the one in need of lifting up. As they are fully aware, life can change in an instant. A few years ago the Red Cross and the entire community was there for them when they lost their home to a fire.

The program featured two guest speakers whom have been impacted by United Way programs. Just over one year ago, the first guest speaker’s life was changed when a tornado hit her home. Her mother-in-laws trailer, next to her home, was destroyed. Her mother-in-law was lucky to leave with her life that day and was all she was left with. She lost everything. The American Red Cross and United Way played an integral part in helping her start from nothing and rebuild her life.

The second guest speaker is a survivor; a survivor in every sense of the word. She’s a survivor of sexual abuse from a family member as a child, and a survivor of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse as a young adult. Her story is too horrific to describe, and too unimaginable to comprehend. A lifetime of tragedy summarized in fifteen minutes that left a room so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Fortunately, she is here and able to help others through her own experience.

I think I cried at least three times that day. I cried for her. I cried with her, and I cried while sharing her story. Her story left me, heart-broken for her as a child, angry for her as a teenager, and terrified for her as a mother. But mostly, she left me with her strength as a survivor. She’s living proof that United Way is about the people who are impacted by other people’s generosity, daily.

The annual United Way Campaign is your time to invest in your community and that time is now.  I encourage you to educate yourself, get involved, and join us in making long-lasting change in our community. Give today. For more information and to find out how you can create change, please visit marshfieldareaunitedway.org or call 715-384-9992.

Scooter Races for United Way!!

Community Wins With United Way Raffle

When it comes to playing the lottery people are often quick to remind ticketholders that they are more likely to be struck by lightning then they are to actually win. Though the odds are one in several million when playing lotteries such as the Powerball, the fact remains that you can’t win if you don’t play.


A few years ago, Marshfield Area United Way started conducting an annual Dream House Raffle that I believe has many people ‘winning’ in the Marshfield area. Proceeds that Marshfield Area United Way receives from the raffle are used to support many programs and initiatives that address Marshfield’s most critical human service needs.

It is true that only one lucky person will be the grand prize winner, however, we all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable and when people have good health. The money used from the raffle will help make these changes that benefit our community as a whole.

This year brings a new dimension to the raffle that gives the grand prize winner the opportunity to win a 2013 Ford Mustang, cash, or a modular home. The choice of prize is determined by the number of tickets sold and a limited number of tickets are available. The cost for one ticket is $60 or 2 for $100.

If you are interested in viewing either the 2013 Ford Mustang or the modular home that are part of this year’s raffle prize, Marshfield Area United Way will be hosting an open house at the Wisconsin Homes Model Village this Saturday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The public will be able to tour the Spectrum 3680 and also check out 2013 Ford Mustang. Tickets will be available for purchase during the open house as well.

For more information about the raffle, ticket locations, official raffle rules and much more, please visit www.marshfieldareaunitedway.org. Your chance of winning the grand prize, should all tickets be sold, is one in 5000 but the chance to create opportunities for a better life for all by participating in the raffle is a sure thing. Those are odds you can bet on. We invite you to be a part the of change. Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.

"Like" Marshfield Area United Way

Want to stay informed about what is happening at Marshfield Area United Way?? Follow the link in the sidebar to become a fan of Marshfield Area United Way on Facebook. All new "likes" of Marshfield Area United Way through June 30 will be entered to win this LIVE UNITED t-shirt. The winner will be announced via Facebook and be contacted to for size and mailing address to send the t-shirt to.

Each Spring, for the past few years, Marshfield Area United Way has held an annual house raffle. The raffle gave the opportunity for one lucky person to win a new home. Though not enough tickets have been sold in past raffles to give away the house, Marshfield Area United Way has given out more than $115,000 in cash prizes including two cash prizes over $40,000 to two individuals.

This year, Marshfield Area United Way has added a new and exciting dimension to the Dare 2 Dream raffle. The raffle this year will give ticket holders a chance to win a 2013 Ford Mustang or a brand new home. The grand prize for the raffle is contingent on the number of raffle tickets sold.

The raffle structure is as follows…If one to 1199 tickets are sold, the grand prize winner will receive half of the prize money. Should 1200 to 3099 tickets be sold, the winner will be able to choose between a 2013 Ford Mustang or half of the prize money. If 3100-5000 tickets are sold, the winner will be able to choose from a model home from Wisconsin Homes or half of the prize money. The prize money is all proceeds from ticket sales less all taxes and expenses incurred by United Way in connection with the raffle. There will also be second place winner whom will receive a cash prize of $3000 and a third place winner that will receive $1000. The cost for tickets is one ticket for sixty dollars or two for one hundred dollars.

Tickets will go on sale beginning at the Dairyfest Mayor’s Breakfast Friday, June 1, 2012. Five-thousand tickets are available for purchase and will be on sale until they are sold out or until the day of the drawing, Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at 4:30 pm. Tickets will be available at several area locations, including: both Associated Bank locations in Marshfield and the Neillsville branch, Cattails Coffee in the Marshfield Clinic lobby, Central City Credit Union, Heritage Bank in Marshfield and Spencer, the MACCI office, Marshfield Area United Way, Forward Financial Bank locations in Marshfield, State Bank of Marshfield, Stratford State Bank, Time Federal Savings Bank, V&H Automotive and Wisconsin Homes. All ticket sales must be made in person. No phone or internet sales will be available.

For more information about the raffle and the prizes please visit www.marshfieldareauniteway.org or call 715-384-9992. Marshfield Area United Way would like to thank V&H Automotive and Wisconsin Homes for partnering with United Way for the raffle prizes. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Marshfield Area United Way and help create opportunities for a better life for all in the Marshfield area.

Nystroms To Lead 2012 United Way Campaign

Marshfield Area United Way is committed to improving the quality of life in the Marshfield area by focusing on the areas of education, financial stability, and health and basic needs. Every year, Marshfield Area United Way raises funds to support lo­cal programs and organizations, as well as, internal initiatives that address our most vital human service needs. As part of this process, United Way recruits people who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done.

Marshfield Area United Way is pleased to announce Al and Amy Nystrom will be leading this year’s United Way Campaign to raise the funds to support these programs and initiatives. Al, Community President at M&I Bank, is a Marshfield native. He moved back to the area with wife, Amy, Chief Financial Officer at Dental Crafters, in 1997. They have two children, Danielle and Brad, whom they have raised here for most of their lives.

“We are honored and humbled. We have been blessed with a strong family, caring community, and a great opportunity to help others. We are driven to use these gifts in the service of others,” said Al Nystrom about being asked to lead this year’s campaign.

As Campaign Drive Chairs, Al and Amy hope to raise not only funds but also awareness in the community. “There are so many basic needs within our community. Whether it’s domestic violence, homelessness, hunger, depression, or loneliness, it’s happening next door. This is not a big city issue. These are your neighbors.” said Amy Nystrom.

Al also added that they want to help people understand that they are giving through United Way, rather than to United Way. “United Way is simply a conduit for helping a mom buy a backpack, or a father put food on the family table. Your gift is not about United Way; it’s about reaching out and lifting up your neighbors.”

Money raised during this fall’s campaign will fund and support 31 local programs and initiatives that work to help youth reach their full potential, help provide resources and assistance for people to work toward financial stability, and help build strong families by teaching skills and providing resources to maintain good health and independence.

Both Al and Amy are very involved in the community. Al has served and continues to serve on many Board of Directors and committees. He is currently Vice Chairman for the Marshfield Clinic Development Committee, serves as a board member for the Marshfield Noon Rotary Club and Marshfield Area Chamber Foundation. He is also a Chairman for the Business Improvement District Board and involved in organizing Rotary Winter Wonderland and Mike’s Run for Mental Health. Al also serves as the Finance Chair for Our Lady of Peace Church.

Amy, a past Marshfield Area United Way Board Member, is also a past member of the Marshfield Sunrise Rotary Club. She currently serves on the Marshfield Area Catholic Schools Education Commission Board as well as the Marshfield Area Catholic Schools Finance Committee. Amy is also an active volunteer with many local programs and organizations, including: Home Delivered Meals, Marshfield Clinic Farm Medicine Center, and Mike’s Run for Mental Health. Amy is also a former Heart Walk Chairman for the American Heart Association.

Join the Nystroms and United Way and be a part of the change. Together, united, people can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better life for all. You can give. You can advocate. You can volunteer. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED. For more information about Marshfield Area United Way, its funded programs or how you can get involved, please call 715-384-9992 or visit www.marshfieldareaunitedway.org.

Improve Quality of Life by Volunteering

Part of a course requirement for a Business Management class I took in college was to volunteer with a local non-profit organization. At the time, I thought my professor was asking for way too much. My time was precious. I was already trying to balance a schedule filled with classes, study groups and work…now she was asking me to give more of MY time, and for what?

I reluctantly chose to volunteer at a local food pantry. The work I did there was quite simple but the reward ended up being immeasurable. For a couple of hours every Tuesday and Thursday evening, I assisted individuals who came to the pantry in need of food. To see the impact this had on them overwhelmed me. The sincere feelings of gratitude that poured out from them filled me with a sense of pride like I had never felt before.

People came to the pantry in need of food and I helped fulfill their need. I came to the pantry in need of a reality check and I was certainly given one. I was so caught up in myself I was unaware of life happening around me.

To this day, that class was one of the most influential, memorable experiences I have had in my life. My volunteer time at the food pantry taught me so much, but mostly it taught me about the kind of person I wanted to be and what really matters in life. I learned that giving a little can give you so much more in return. 

If you have never volunteered or have not volunteered for some time, I encourage you to consider giving some of your time and talent to any our local programs and organizations. You can commit to an hour, an afternoon, a Saturday, or even commit to an ongoing opportunity. 

Please visit our website at www.marshfieldareaunitedway.org and click on Volunteer to see the many opportunities listed on the Marshfield Volunteer Center.  

Get Connected. Get Answers. Dial 2-1-1.

United Way’s 2-1-1 is a valuable community program that has helped thousands of callers find the resources or referrals they needed in just one phone call.  

United Way’s 2-1-1 is a three digit number you can dial on your phone or cell phone and receive free and confidential information and referral to your community questions.  It is available 24/7.  Commonly asked questions range from “I cannot pay my utility bill – who can help?” to “I need help caring for my loved one with dementia.”

Last year, United Way’s 2-1-1 received 6,817 calls for information and referral and the top needs for 2011 were:  electric service payment assistance, rent payment assistance, information about food pantries, low income/subsidized private rental housing and heating fuel payment assistance.

You can participate in United Way’s 2-1-1 several different ways. 

·       If you have a family member or friend who is having a difficult time, you can advocate for them and dial 2-1-1 to see what resources are available.

·       If you are part of a non-profit organization, religious entity or government agency who provides health or human service programs to the public, contact 2-1-1 to be added to our database.

·       You can call and request free 2-1-1 materials (posters, fact cards, magnets, etc.) and put them on display where you work or at your church. 

·       You can sign up for the “Get Connected Get Answers” Blog at www.unitedways211.blogspot.com to stay informed about local events, support groups, conferences, classes and updates in your community.

·       You can visit our website at www.getconnected211.org and download helpful guides such as the “Help for Hard Times Guides.

·       You can also volunteer for United Way’s 2-1-1, and help with data entry and answering phone calls.

In addition to connecting callers to local resources, United Way’s 2-1-1 also tracks caller needs and uses that information to analyze trends, such as identifying gaps in services.  This information can be used to help make program funding decisions.

For more information, contact United Way’s 2-1-1 by dialing the three digit number 2-1-1 or by calling 715-423-0211.

United Way Reaches Goal

Marshfield Area United Way announced that its 2011 Campaign goal of $910,000 has been reached. The 2011 campaign total is $914,125 which is $34,125 more than what was raised last year. Marshfield Area United Way would to thank all those who generously contributed and also those who gave their time to this year’s campaign.

With the recession still affecting the economy, United Way credits its many individual, corporate, employee, and retired givers in helping surpass the $910,000.  This is the first time since 2007 that United Way announced a public goal for its annual fundraising campaign and it was aggressively set $30,000 above the amount raised last year.

“Tammy and I are both goal oriented people.  We felt very strongly that United Way needed to once again make public the goal for our community to reach.  Our message throughout the campaign was firm and passionate that the needs of this area were more desperate than they have ever been” said Campaign Drive Chair, Dave Meissner, of the public goal.

Reaching goal this year was made possible because this community has such a great capacity to care for one another. “There are many businesses and individuals that stepped up to assure the goal was attainable.  They are too numerous to mention by name but I do feel the need to thank the Marshfield Clinic.  It was their leadership and vision that set the pace for this campaign early with $25,000 Match Challenge.  Special thanks to Dr. Tim Boyle, Al Chaney and Dr. Karl Ulrich for recognizing the difficulties faced by so many individuals in our community,” said Meissner. The Clinic proposed a challenge this past October, to match any new and increased donations up to $25,000. The community’s response was remarkable.

The generosity of donors makes it possible for United Way to help meet the rising demand for basic services, such as, food and shelter, in the community.  The funds from this year’s campaign will also go to support local youth initiative programs that help children reach their full potential as well as fund programs that help people whom are vulnerable gain financial stability. Last year, these programs helped over 11,000 individuals in the community.

Campaign Drive Chair Tammy Meissner said in summary of this year’s campaign, “It has been an honor and privilege to represent United Way this year.  We have gained an even deeper appreciation for the folks who day in and day out, work to adapt to increased needs of struggling families and individuals. United Way represents a safety net for our community and its most vulnerable population.  Everyone faces challenges in life but what's important to realize is that there are those to catch you when you fall.  Thanks to the area’s generosity and commitment to their community, neighbors, and co-workers, United Way continues to be there.”