Paul McKinney (second from left) won $30,000 Dec. 16 in the first-ever Heartland United WAY $50K Giveaway. Also shown in the photo are Tonja Brown (far left), Kent Brown (second from right), and Brian Gallagher (far right). (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Paul McKinney, CFO and COO at Eakes Office Solutions, walked away with the grand prize of $30,000 in the first-ever Heartland United Way $50K Giveaway on Dec. 16.
Maritza Navas Salazar won $15,000, and Janis Alkire won $5,000. Heartland United Way campaign chairs Kent and Tonja Brown donated the $50,000 in prize money. The three prize winners were among 25 finalists in the Giveaway.
People who donated at least $312 a year qualified for an entry into the $50K Giveaway.
Starting Nov. 24, the Heartland United Way began randomly selecting names from those who had entered the drawing to be the 24 silve rbell winners. The 25th bell winner was selected at the event Dec. 16 at the Raising Nebraska building.
McKinney said that some of the money he won would be donated to the United Way. He said he has donated to the United Way for approximately 28 years.
This year’s fund-raising goal is $1.8 million. It was announced at the event that $1,733,587 has been raised.
Karen Rathke, president of Heartland United Way, said that the Browns were continuing a legacy started by Tom and Kim Dinsdale, who owned Tom Dinsdale Automotive in Grand Island and Hastings and have retired. The Dinsdales provided the prize incentive, a vehicle, for the 25 Keys of Christmas program.
The Browns stepped up to provide a second stage of prize money for the United Way event. Kent Brown serves on the United Way Board. Tonja Brown is a volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
“That is a tough volunteer job,” Rathke said about volunteering for CASA.
Kent Brown said he was excited and humbled to continue the legacy that the Dinsdales started.
Tonja Brown said the fact that she and her husband grew up in Grand Island made it an “easy yes” to donate the $50,000.
Edward Jones financial advisors provided $30,000 as an incentive for Builder’s Club donors. That helped cause 134 new people to join the group.
There are 79 Pacesetter businesses that promote the United Way by having campaigns within their businesses and making opportunities such as payroll deduction available.
Heartland United Way has the Alexis de Tocqueville group, comprised of people who have given more than $10,000 to the United Way. Tom and Sue Pirnie provided an incentive to the United Way of $1,000 for every new donor in the group. There were two new donors.
The 25 finalists were lined up in a row at the front of the room in the Raising Nebraska building. Each finalist selected an ornament from a Christmas tree, and a number was included with it. Then, the finalists arranged themselves in order from 1 to 25 at the front of the room.
Brian Gallagher served as emcee, dressed as Santa. He announced a number between 1 and 25, and the person with that number was eliminated from the competition. That process continued until there were five finalists. Then the drawings occurred to select the $30,000, $15,000 and $5,000 winners.
There are 20 partner agencies associated with Heartland United Way. The mission of Heartland United Way is to improve lives and create possibilities for individuals and families in Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick Counties.
