Business and community leaders, volunteers and supporters were honored Wednesday, April 5, during the United Way Quad Cities meeting called The Generosity Dividend Event, held at John Deere World Headquarters in Moline.
The Community Champions awards were presented to 13 companies and individuals who have helped improve the community through volunteer work, financial contributions and their expertise.
“But we know they don’t volunteer, advocate or invest to win awards,” Rene Gellerman, president and CEO of United Way Quad Cities, stated in information from the United Way. “They do it to help make the Quad Cities the best place for students to succeed, families to live and businesses to grow.”
The 2023 awards were presented to:
- Community Pillar Award for Corporate Leadership – John Deere. The award is presented to a corporate partner that embodies an overall spirit of generosity through contributions of time, leadership and resources in support of United Way’s work.
- Inspire Award – BITCO Insurance Companies, Davenport. The award is given to a company for its outstanding support of United Way as a collaborative partner, investor and thought leader.
- Outstanding Young Philanthropist – Ty Lewis. The award recognizes service by an individual under age 40 who demonstrates dedication to the community through their leadership, financial support, advocacy and volunteerism. Mr. Lewis recently was named as United Way’s director of the African American Leadership Society and the Emerging Leaders donor networks.
- Momentum Award – Sears Seating, Davenport. The award recognizes a company that goes above and beyond to make its workplace campaign a success.
- Outstanding Corporate Engagement Award – Russell, Davenport. The award recognizes a corporate partner that has embraced corporate social responsibility as part of its community engagement and business strategies.
- Campaign Champion of the Year Award – Kathleen Richlen, City of Bettendorf, and Brooke Sweeney-Adrian, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. The award honors individuals who take on a leadership role within their company to make sure the campaign is a success.
- Ignite Award – Group O, Milan. The award honors a corporate partner that has ignited a spark in employees and connected them to opportunities to make the community a better place.
- Community Impact Award – Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, Bettendorf. The recipient is a company or group that demonstrates a commitment to volunteering and who made an impact to causes, programs or projects that support human service needs in the Quad Cities.
- Labor Impact Award – Quad City Federation of Labor. The award recognizes the power and spirit of collaboration that can inspire others to participate in the community in impactful ways.
- Volunteer of the Year Award – Sherwin Robinson. The award recognizes an individual who has dedicated themselves to service throughout the year and helped promote the spirit of leading, influencing and volunteering with United Way.
- Bridgebuilder Award – Annette Sherbeyn and Sunder Subbaroyan. The award recognizes an individual or family who goes above and beyond to raise engagement with United Way and make a lasting impact.
- Quad Cities Humanitarian Award – Jim Victor (awarded posthumously). The award is given to an individual who clearly demonstrates extraordinary leadership in philanthropy and invests time, talent and financial resources to improve lives in the Quad Cities.
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Hunt and Diane Harris. The award is presented to a civic leader and committed United Way volunteer who has given back to their community for decades. It recognizes the outstanding lifelong dedication to volunteerism, leadership and philanthropy, not only to United Way but to the Quad Cities as a whole.
