BENTON HARBOR — At UWSM’s annual Celebration at Lake Michigan College, the organization revealed it raised $4,282,874 last year.

United Way of Southwest Michigan gathered with around 500 guests from the community at the Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College on Thursday, March 14 for this year’s annual Celebration, reflecting on another successful campaign.

The event was hosted by Jonny Reinhardt of 98.3 The Coast and Matt Malone of 97.5 Y-Country.

One of the highlights of the evening was the revealing of the 2018 campaign total of $4,282,874. In 2017, the nonprofit also had a historic campaign season, raising $4,261,541.

As the largest non-governmental funder of health and human services in the southwest Michigan community, United Way of Southwest Michigan stewards millions of dollars and tens of thousands of volunteer hours every year. In 2018:

• Almost 10,000 children were enrolled in high quality early childhood programs.

• Almost 500 people received job skills training. And of those who got a job, 89 percent of them were still employed one year later.

• Almost 6,000 people were given better access to healthcare services and supports. And 84 percent of them increased their mental or emotional health.

Almost 350,000 meals were provided, and close to 20,000 nights of shelter were provided.

Also Thursday, many organizations and individuals who helped make the 2018 campaign a success were recognized with the following awards:

Best Campaign Growth Awards

• City of Niles

• Spectrum Health Lakeland

• Tyler Automotive

• United Federal Credit Union

• Watervliet Public Schools

• Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network

Best Community Leadership Awards

• Berrien County Cancer Service, Inc.

• Gast Manufacturing, Inc.

• Kinexus

• Plante Moran

• St. Joseph Public Schools

• Wolverine Pipe Line Co.

Best Year-Round Partnership Awards

• Berrien Regional Education Service Agency

• Competitive Edge

• 1st Source Bank

• Lake Michigan College

• LOGAN Autism Learning Center

•Pri Mar Petroleum, Inc.

Corporate Champion of the Year — Large Business

• Meijer

Corporate Champion of the Year — Medium Business

• United Parcel Service

Corporate Champion of the Year – Small Business

• Lindberg/MPH

Employee Campaign Chair of the Year — Large Business

• Jeff Blake – United Federal Credit Union

• Dalry Payne — Andrews University

Employee Campaign Chair of the Year — Medium Business

• Nia Ammeson and Ivan Price —Martin’s Super Market, Stevensville

Employee Campaign Chair of the Year —Small Business

• Lorraine Day — Mid-West Family Broadcasting

Inspired Giving Award

• Martin’s Super Markets

Campaign Cabinet Choice Awards

• Harbor Graphics Corporation

• K&M Machine-Fabricating, Inc.

• Niles Precision Company, Inc.

David J. Weichhand Award

• Honor Credit Union

Whirlpool Community Commitment Award

• Whirlpool Corporation

Impact Cabinet Choice Award

• Lewis Cass Intermediate School District

Excellence in Innovation Award

• The LINK — Kinexus

Excellence in Impact Award

• Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Department

Excellence in Collaboration Awards

• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

• Michigan 2-1-1

LIVE UNITED Awards

• Indiana Michigan Power Company, an AEP Company

• Andy Janson 2017-2018 Board Chair