Tuesday, June 09, 2015

2015 United Way Campaign Drive Chairs Announced


Dan and Mary Beth Knoeck

Marshfield Area United Way has named Dan and Mary Beth Knoeck Campaign Drive Chairs for the upcoming fall campaign. When United Way approached the Knoecks about lending their time and talents to support the effort, their first reaction was, “Why us?” But, It didn’t take long for either of them to realize that leading the annual campaign had little to do with them, and everything to do with supporting United Way’s work and the community that they love.  So they simply couldn’t say no.

Dan and Mary Beth have been longtime supporters of United Way and they are both passionate about being able to make a difference and give back to the community. “Being familiar with the wide range of community support that United Way provides and seeing the difference your time can make, it just makes you feel good,” said Mary Beth.

After living in the Madison area for several years, Dan and Mary Beth moved back to Marshfield in 1998. Dan, a Marshfield native, has been the Director of Public Works for the city of Marshfield for the past seventeen years. He is a member of Sunrise Rotary, member of the Rotary Winter Wonderland Board and is currently serving as its Chairman. Mary Beth is the Adult/BAAS Student Enrollment Coordinator and PEC Advisor at UW-Marshfield/Wood County. She serves on the Healthy Lifestyles Community Committee and is involved with School to Career and the Nutrition On Weekend program. Both Dan and Mary Beth are members of Our Lady of Peace Church and are actively involved as parent volunteers at Columbus Catholic Schools.

This fall, the Knoecks hope to raise awareness about issues people in the community are facing daily, “For most people, life is a delicate balance and it may not take much to throw someone you know out of balance – a job loss, a prolonged illness, a car accident, or other unforeseen incident.”  United Way and its partner agencies are critical resources in helping individuals get back on their feet. “We think of homelessness as a big city problem, but there are people struggling for basic shelter right here in our community, “said Dan Knoeck.

Please join the Knoecks this fall and invest in your community, support Marshfield Area United Way. Funds raised during the Campaign will support community programs that work to address issues such as hunger, homelessness, domestic violence, poverty and more. For more information about the impact of your donation, please visit marshfieldareaunitedway.org.

Wednesday, June 03, 2015

United Way Hires Community Impact and Volunteer Center Coordinator



Marshfield Area United Way is pleased to announce the hiring of Mary Wolff as the Community
Impact and Volunteer Center Coordinator. The responsibilities of this position include, directing the development, implementation and maintenance of United Way’s Impact agenda by way of supporting and collaborating with partnering agencies and community volunteers.

Wolff moved to Marshfield with her family in 2006 and graduated from Marshfield High School in 2012. She recently graduated with distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Non-profit Leadership with an emphasis in rural and impoverished communities. While at UW-Madison, Wolff worked for the University and for the State Government at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection as a Consumer Protection Investigator.

 “I am thrilled to be working with United Way and all of its members to continue improving and supporting the community that has given me so much,” Wolff said about joining the United Way staff and her return to the community.

The Community Impact and Volunteer Center Coordinator position had been vacant for a number a years. “Thankfully, with the growth of our Nutrition On Weekends program from twenty-nine participants to almost 300 participants, the number of volunteers involved with United Way has also significantly increased.  The management of this program and the more than 200 volunteers really created a need for United Way to reinstate the Volunteer Center Coordinator.  We are excited to have someone to give the Volunteer Center the attention it deserves and anticipate that as a result even more individuals and families will become engaged in volunteering in our community,” said Paula Jero, Executive Director.

Marshfield Area United Way's mission is to increase our community's capacity to care for one another. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done, working with a diverse group of partners, companies and individuals from all walks of life to identify needs, create a strategic response and work towards long-lasting solutions.

For more information about the work of Marshfield Area United Way, the Volunteer Center and the Nutrition On Weekends program, please visit marshfieldareaunitedway.org.