The United Way of Story County teamed up with ISU faculty and staff again in 2015 to help achieve its fundraising goal and to set a new record.

$2,118,612 was raised by the United Way of Story County, with the help of the $441,820 raised by Iowa State.

“We’re very, very fortunate in Story County in the fact that we have a very philanthropic community, and in addition we have 31 partner agencies that also support our efforts,” said Jean Kresse, United Way of Story County CEO.

ISU Provost Jonathan Wickert was the 2015 Live United Campaign chairman. Wickert said Iowa State, the largest employer campaign in Story County, exceeded its own goal by more than $26,000.

In addition to bake sales and book sales, a few ISU faculty members got creative with their fundraising efforts.

“Warren Madden did something where he auctioned off his parking spot,” Wickert said. “David Giles over in electrical and computer engineering had some sort of chess competition. He had something where he’d be blindfolded and play you in chess, or he’d simultaneously play 20 matches at once, and if he beat you, you had to donate to United Way.”

Kresse said that the overall fundraising goal for last year was increased to $2.1 million from $2 million in 2014. That mark was exceeded by $18,612.

The United Way of Story County uses fundraising cash to fund services in Story County and to improve the quality of life in the community, especially in the areas of education, health and income. Kresse said setting fundraising goals is an important aspect of the process.

 “We look at what happened this last year and what was unique when we set a goal taking all things into consideration,” Kresse said. “For example, the downturn in the farm economy impacted some of our businesses, so we take that into account, too.”

One of the unique opportunities the United Way was able to use last year will not be around this year.

“We were in partnership with Applebee’s, and for every Hoiburger they sold, a dollar would come to the United Way,” Kresse said. “That was about $46,000 that we were able to count this year.”

The new sponsored burger, the Steve Prohm Steak Burger, brings to Applebee’s a hamburger with a beef patty and thinly sliced steak. One dollar will be donated to the United Way of Story County for every steak burger sold at Applebee’s.