DES MOINES — For exemplifying the true spirit of what it means to LIVE UNITED, Aviva USA captured this year’s prestigious Spirit of Central Iowa recognition at the April 19 United Way of Central Iowa LIVE UNITED recognition event.
United Way of Central Iowa annually presents the Spirit of Central Iowa recognition to a single company or organization that improves community conditions in education, income and health through United Way’s strategies of Give, Advocate and Volunteer.
Aviva USA was selected by a panel of volunteer judges, who commented on Aviva’s organization-wide commitment to philanthropy, advocacy and volunteer service as core business principles.
GIVE, ADVOCATE AND VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
United Way of Central Iowa also honored 11 organizations and individuals with LIVE UNITED recognitions, in the categories of GIVE, ADVOCATE and VOLUNTEER.
GIVE:
Organizations with fewer than 200 employees
Belin McCormick, P.C.
Organizations with 200 – 799 employees
ITAGroup
Organizations with 800 or more employees
Meredith Corporation
ADVOCATE:
Individual Advocate Honoree
Heather McDermott, a Principal Financial Group employee, for her advocacy on behalf of the Whyld Girls, a program at Children and Family Urban Ministries. She serves as a life coach for teenage girls, and recruited 12 other women to join her in mentoring young lives. She has organized fundraisers where the girls themselves create and execute a business plan. She teaches presentation skills, character-building and instills the most valuable asset any successful person possesses: a belief in oneself.
Organizations with fewer than 200 employees
Iowa Legal Aid, Health and Law Project
Organizations with 200 – 799 employees
Primary Health Care, Inc.
Organizations with 800 or more employees
FBL Financial Group
VOLUNTEER:
Individual Awardees
Linda Cowger, board member and volunteer for Iowa Homeless Youth Centers. For the past nine years, she has dedicated her Wednesday evenings to cook and share a nutritious dinner for the youth, ages 16 t0 21, who live in the Iowa Homeless Youth Center on Buchanan Street. She teaches the youth how to prepare a meal – and instills some valuable life skills in the process.
Organizations with fewer than 200 employees
General Mills, Avon Plant
Organizations with 200 – 799 employees
Sammons Financial Group
Organizations with 800 or more employees
Wells Fargo & Company