A Momentous Finish for the 2017/18 Stebbins Family “Get on the Bus” Granite United Way Campaign
October 18, 2018
Manchester, NH – September, 2018 was the culmination of another successful “Get on the Bus” Stebbins Family Challenge Match for Granite United Way. Twenty-five new companies became corporate donors and earned a seat on the bus to a New England Patriots’ game at Gillette Stadium. It was a fitting conclusion to the Granite United Way (GUW) 2017/18 campaign that has added 50 companies in total, and raised over $300,000 in the last two years. The challenge match is spearheaded by PROCON owners, Mark and Sally Stebbins who are longtime United Way contributors and Alexis de Tocqueville Society members.
Philanthropy is embedded in the Stebbins family going back two generations to Mark Stebbins’ grandfather, Blanchard Stebbins. “Our parents instilled in us the importance of giving back to the community, and we always want to encourage others to do the same,” remarked Stebbins. Historically, the Stebbins family has supported GUW through personal contributions, corporate fundraisers and challenge matches for over 60 years.
“The generosity and commitment that Mark and Sally Stebbins have shown our community is incredible. They have been long-time supporters of Granite United Way and have inspired countless individuals and corporate partners to help tackle some of our region’s greatest challenges,” said Patrick Tufts, president and CEO of Granite United Way.
To be eligible for the Stebbins Challenge Match, each corporate donor either hosted a new workplace campaign or pledged a new corporate gift of $2,500 or more, which was matched by the Stebbins Family up to $50,000. All of the qualified donors received a complimentary pair of tickets to “Get on the Bus” for a Patriots game at Gillette Stadium. The event included a pre-game brunch at the adjacent Hilton Garden Inn and a group photo on the playing field in front of GUW’s logo displayed on the Jumbotron. The New England Patriots win against the Miami Dolphins was a perfect conclusion to the day’s entertainment.
“The football game is a great incentive for partners to give since it occurs at the start of another campaign season. This challenge match has resulted in over $300,000 in new UW dollars over the last two years including the Stebbins’ generous match.” said Nichole Martin Reimer Vice President of Workplace Giving at GUW.
PROCON’s Workplace Kickoff
As Granite United Way Pacesetters, the Stebbins’ commitment to GUW communities starts with their own company PROCON. Each year, the firm hosts a workplace kick-off event where members of the GUW community share how their lives are impacted by donation dollars. This year’s workplace fundraiser generated over $83,000 that included 28 leadership donors of $1,000 or more and many loyal contributors of ten plus years. Also, all the employee donations were matched by PROCON, doubling their positive impact.
Sally Stebbins declared, “This year’s campaign was incredibly successful and our best ever. We are truly grateful for every dollar contributed by everyone involved. Their generosity will bring many resources to those less fortunate in our community.”
Granite United Way is the result of six locations merging to create a single, efficient organization that covers more than 80% of New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont. United Way campaigns provide an opportunity for businesses and their employees to make a positive impact on their community, and serve a greater cause together. Nicole Reimer’s enthusiasm about the event was evident, “Thank you for helping us engage new partners in United Way!”
To support United Way with a workplace campaign contact http://www.graniteuw.org/campaign-toolkit
