The United Way of Story County had the best special events in the Midwest last year.

The organization was recently awarded first place in the special events category of the Excellence in United Way Communications Awards Contest. The local chapter of United Way received recognition for special events such as the Campaign Kickoff Breakfast, Day of Caring, Golf Fore United Way and Leadership Reception.

Carol Smalley, campaign assistant for United Way of Story County, said the special events for which the United Way was awarded first place are all fairly new.

“I thought it was a tremendous honor,” Smalley said. “To even receive an award was an honor.”

She said this year’s award contest was organized differently than in the past.

“This year many more United Ways were competing for the same award,” Smalley said. “We were competing against people who raise more money.”

A committee of United Way representatives from across the Midwest determined the winner of the award based on the organizations’ submissions.

Oleson attended the United Way Great Rivers Conference in Green Bay, Wis., Feb. 21 to accept the award.

Oleson said the award gives the United Way of Story County positive reinforcement for their efforts.

“We were very, very happy to receive it for the first time,” Oleson said. “It’s good to hear we are doing a good job in our events.”

The golf outing on Sept. 14, 2001, was the second annual tournament. A third is scheduled for Sept. 20.

“We had a record number of participants with a full slate of 30 teams,” said Frankee Oleson, executive director of United Way of Story County.

Oleson said the fund-raiser earned more than $6,000, twice as much as the previous year. A portion of the proceeds was donated to a Sept. 11 relief fund.

Mary Carlson, member of the United Way of Story County board of directors and 3M plant manager, said 3M sponsored a hole for the golf outing and had a team of four participants. Carlson said she had fun with her team, even though she’s not a regular golfer.

The Leadership Reception was also recognized as part of the award.

“The point of it was to encourage people to give at our leadership level,” Oleson said. “We invited people who in the past had donated $1,000 or more.”

The Campaign Kickoff was a breakfast in Ames that brought together about 100 people from around Story County. After the breakfast, volunteers participated in the Day of Caring, a series of service projects around the community.

Oleson said businesses in the area allowed their employees to help with painting and landscaping projects during the day instead of going to work.

Carlson also participated in the Day of Caring with other 3M employees.

Carlson said she went with 16 others to the Girl Scout Camp in Boone to paint, clean and help in the lodge area.

While some volunteers repainted the cabins and cleaned windows, Carlson spent the day reorganizing the library.