Sanofi-aventis and Michael Breznak
Lead Somerset County United Way Recognition Awards
Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset County United Way hosted its 2010 Community Celebration event at the Ted Blum 4-H Center in Bridgewater on Thursday, June 17th, as a “thank you” to all their company partners and volunteers. In addition, 46 local companies and four individual volunteers were specially honored for their outstanding philanthropic support of the Somerset County United Way.
Each year, the Somerset County United Way issues Spirit Awards to companies, organizations, individuals, and teams of volunteers whose support significantly enhances the financial resources and volunteer power available in Somerset County and who give to their community with exceptional commitment, leadership, and creativity.
“Community Celebration is one of the highlights of our year,” said Philip A. Brown III, President and CEO of the Somerset County United Way. “It gives us an opportunity to recognize companies and individuals whose service to the community and to the mission of the Somerset County United Way is exemplary and has significant impact. By supporting our work through Giving, Advocating and Volunteering, they truly LIVE UNITED.”
Sanofi-aventis, U.S. was the recipient of Somerset County United Way’s most prestigious corporate award, the National Starch and Chemical Company Summit Award, which recognizes the exceptional commitment, leadership and creativity shown by one company to United Way throughout the year.
Somerset County United Way’s highest volunteer award, the Carlyle G. Caldwell Award, was presented to Michael Breznak. Breznak has been a Somerset County United Way Board Member since 2001 and served on the Finance Committee over the last 24 years. His longstanding, persistent and tireless commitment to the improvement to United Way over many decades makes him an exceptional volunteer in our community.
A number of other corporate awards were also given out: Hanover Insurance was the recipient of the 1st Time Employee Campaign Award; AT&T’s Audrey Melnick received the Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year Award; ITW Thielex received the Small Business of the Year Award; and Cordis received the Johnson & Johnson Company of the Year Award.
Other individual volunteers were also recognized for their outstanding dedication; Susan Wetzel from Warren, Sandy Kiser from Flemington, and Kalwant Grewal from Long Valley all received awards.
Somerset County United Way’s Circle of Honor recognized corporations who have raised significant dollars through quality workplace giving campaigns and whose employee support, both financial and volunteer, of the United Way’s mission was exceptional.
The recipients were:
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AkzoNobel
Andrew Systems
AT&T, Inc.
AT&T, Inc. CWA IBEW
AZ Electronic Materials
Best Buy
BJ’s Wholesale Club
Bloomingdale’s
Brother International Corporation
Centocor R&D
Chubb & Son, Inc.
Cordis
Costco
Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company
FedEx
Global Biologics Supply Chain, L.L.C.
Global Pharmaceutical Supply Group
Hanover Insurance
Harris Corporation
Henkel Adhesive Technologies
HSBC, the world’s local bank
Intersil Corporation
ITS, a Division of Johnson & Johnson
Services, Inc.
ITW Thielex
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Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research
and Development, L.L.C.
Kohl’s
Macy’s
Merck
National Starch and Chemical Company
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics,
a Johnson & Johnson Company
Ortho-McNeil Janssen
Pharmaceutical Services
Pfizer, Inc.
Pharmaceutical Sourcing Group-Americas
Phillips -Van Heusen Corporation
sanofi-aventis, U.S
Skylands Community Bank
Somerset Hills Bank
Somerset Savings Bank
Stop & Shop
Target Corporation
TD Bank
Tibotec Therapeutics, a Division
of Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.
UPS
Wal-Mart
Wegmans
Williams Transco
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The National Starch and Chemical Company Summit Award presented to sanofi-aventis, U.S., recognizes the exceptional commitment, leadership and creativity shown by one company to United Way throughout the year. By strongly supporting Somerset County United Way, the recipient of the Summit Award exemplifies the commitment to serving the children, seniors, families and neighborhoods that need most help, and the commitment to ensuring the greatest positive impact on the needs of our community. The Summit award travels annually from one recipient to the next.
The Carlyle G. Caldwell Award, presented to Michael Breznak, is named after a longtime United Way volunteer and benefactor, Dr. Carlyle G. Caldwell, former president and CEO of National Starch and Chemical Company. The recipient is an outstanding volunteer who has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving Somerset County United Way and contributed to dramatic organizational impact over a length of time.
The Christian T. Nielsen Unsung Hero Award, presented to Kalwant Grewal, is given to an individual volunteer who goes about their work in a deliberate and purposeful manner, never seeking public recognition for their efforts but always true to their desire to help others. The award honors the memory of Chris Nielsen who, before his death in December 1998, was vice president of manufacturing for National Starch and Chemical Company, vice chair of the Board of Trustees for the Somerset County United Way and chair of United Way's Community Problem Solving Committee. Grewal, both a tax preparation volunteer and on the Agency Standards Review team epitomizes the spirit of this award with his hard work, reliability, and kindness. Never seeking out attention, he leads by example, guiding and supporting other volunteers.
The Joseph M. Lee Leadership Award, presented to Susan Wetzel, honors a donor and volunteer who makes Somerset County United Way his or her charity of choice. It recognizes the contribution of time, treasure and talent that results in significant impact on Somerset County United Way's work in improving the community for all of its residents. Wetzel, a member of the Somerset County United Way Board of Trustees, has held various volunteer and leadership positions with United Way along the years, including starting off as a member of the Communications team, serving as President & CEO of Somerset County United Way, and helping to launch our Women’s Initiative affinity group.
The Donald H. Bowers Board Leadership Award, presented to Sandy Kiser, honors a Somerset County United Way Board of Trustee member who demonstrates the highest level of commitment and dedication and whose work has created a significant long-lasting impact. This award memorializes the dedication of Donald H. Bowers, a tireless supporter of Somerset County United Way. Kiser has been a board member since 2005 and currently serves as Vice-Chairperson. In her role as co-hair of the Community Relations and Strategic Planning Committee, Sandy has led United Way’s efforts to develop and implement an organizational strategic plan that moves forward our community impact agenda.
Somerset County United Way would like to thank the following local businesses for their generous donations that made the Community Celebration event possible: Wegmans, Best Buy and Starbucks-Bridgewater Village.
About Somerset County United Way: An independent nonprofit organization, Somerset County United Way helps people who live and work in Somerset County through its vision that all residents possess a living income that will be attained through achieving financial stability, healthy lifestyles, and life readiness. United Way’s mission is to lead a caring community to create solutions that transform people’s lives. Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED. To learn more about how you can LIVE UNITED, contact Somerset County United Way at (908) 725 – 6640 or visit www.scuw.org.
Photo Caption: Community Celebration attendees pose for a group photo wearing their LIVE UNITED t-shirts. Over a hundred United Way volunteers attended Somerset County United Way’s annual Community Celebration event for a free breakfast and awards ceremony at the Ted Blum 4-H Center in Bridgewater on June16, 2010. Photo by Charley Nasta.
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