This announcement was originally published on the United Way of Central Iowa’s website on April 12, 2016.
For exemplifying the true spirit of what it means to LIVE UNITED, United Way of Central Iowa has honored Farm Bureau Financial Services with the 2016 Spirit of Central Iowa Award. The honor was presented at the April 12 LIVE UNITED luncheon at Prairie Meadows.
The prestigious Spirit of Central Iowa Award is United Way's highest honor, presented to one outstanding organization each year for excellence in all three categories of Give, Advocate and Volunteer. By choosing United Way as its partner in bringing its corporate social responsibility mission to life, Farm Bureau makes a powerful and lasting impact in central Iowa.
Farm Bureau was selected by a panel of volunteer judges, who commented on their company-wide commitment to philanthropy, advocacy and volunteer service as core business principles. Among the achievements leading to the award:
- Farm Bureau employees topped their United Way campaign goal, and with a corporate match, increased their United Way giving by 16 percent.
- They advocate on behalf of Iowa’s farmers and a secure supply of healthy food for our community and state.
- Their staff volunteers on United Way’s board of directors, on the Education, Income and Health Cabinets, on the Business Volunteer Council, and for nonprofits throughout the community, thanks to their new Volunteer Time-Off policy.
- They created the Backpack Buddy program, so children from lower-income families start the year with new school supplies.