Congratulations to all of our Best Of Awards recipients for 2010! Everyone had a great time at the sold-out, red carpet Academy Awards themed gala at The Hartford Club on Thursday evening, co-hosted by Laurie Perez and Rachel Lutzker of Fox CT. These awards recognize organizations and individuals across central and northeastern Connecticut who have demonstrated outstanding effort and creativity in leading the 2010 United Way Community Campaign at their workplaces.

Kathy Hersey of Newington, a Hartford Hospital employee, received the Campaign Coordinator of the Year Award, which honors outstanding leadership and spirit during a successful workplace campaign. Ethel Wright of Bloomfield, who is retiring after 20 years serving as the campaign coordinator for the Metropolitan District Commission, received the Loyal Coordinator award.

“Campaign coordinators are the true heroes of the United Way Community Campaign,” said Susan Dunn, president and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.  “Year after year, hundreds of our region’s best employees take on the daunting task of helping to raise millions of dollars for our community.”

Awards were presented to:

• Best Campaign Kickoff: The Village for Families & Children, Hartford;
• Best Campaign Photo: YWCA Hartford Region, Hartford, and Pepperidge Farm, Bloomfield;
• Best Fast and Furious Campaign: OKAY Industries Inc., New Britain;
• Best Use of Web and New Media: The Phoenix Companies, Hartford;
• Best Rise to the Challenge: UTC Power, South Windsor;
• Best New Campaign: Timken Aerospace Transmissions LLC, Manchester;
• Best Partner Agency Campaign: Our Piece of the Pie, Hartford;
• Best Campaign Special Event – Small Company: Vantis Life Insurance Company, Windsor;
• Best Campaign Special Event – Large Company: ConnectiCare, Farmington;
• Best Year-Round Partnership:  United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford;
• Best Campaign Video: United Technologies Corporation, Hartford;
• Campaign Coordinator of the Year: Kathy Hersey, of Newington (employed by Hartford Hospital, Hartford);
• Loyal Coordinator: Ethel Wright, of Bloomfield  (employed by Metropolitan District Commission, Hartford);
• Spirit of the Campaign: Hamilton Sundstrand with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 743 , Windsor Locks;
• Best In Show – Small Companies: American Nuclear Insurers, Glastonbury, and C & S Wholesale Grocers, Suffield;
• Best In Show – Medium Companies: AAA Allied Group, West Hartford, and United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford; and
• Best In Show – Large Companies: The Phoenix Companies, Hartford.

The United Way Community Campaign, a joint effort of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and Community Health Charities of New England, raises dollars for education, income, health and safety net programs and initiatives that help people in 40 towns across the region improve their lives. It is the largest annual health and human service fund-raising effort in Connecticut and the second largest in New England, with 760 workplaces participating.

Many thanks to our Best Of Awards corporate sponsors: All Waste Inc., OKAY Industries Inc., and UTC Power.