RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE
2022 Citizens of the Year
Julie and Lance Fritz received the Citizens of the Year Award for their dedication to our community and its well-being.
Lance M. Fritz is Union Pacific chairman, president and chief executive officer. He previously served as president and chief operating officer of Union Pacific Railroad, a position he had held since February 2014, after serving as executive vice president-Operations and vice president-Labor Relations, respectively. He began his Union Pacific career in July 2000 as vice president and general manager-Energy in the company’s Marketing and Sales department.
Before joining Union Pacific, Fritz worked for Fiskars Inc., Cooper Industries and General Electric. He is a graduate of Bucknell University and earned a master’s degree in management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Fritz serves as a member of the board of directors of Parker-Hannifin Corporation. He is chair of the Business Roundtable trade and international committee, a member of the board of directors for the Association of American Railroads, the Business Council and the Georgia Institute of Technology president’s advisory board. He is also deeply involved with organizations in his local community. He is a member of the board of directors for Nebraska Medicine and Omaha Zoological Society and a previous board chair for United Way of the Midlands. He serves on the STRATCOM consultation committee and is the Omaha Business Ethics Alliance trustee chair.
A native of Rye, New York, Julie Fritz attended Bucknell University – graduating with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. She moved to Omaha in 2000, where she is active with many community organizations and causes: as a current and former board member for Habitat for Humanity, The Joslyn Art Museum and Film Streams; as a member of the Salvation Army’s DJ’s Hero selection committee and the Women’s Auxiliary; as a member of United Way of the Midland’s Women United steering committee and the Tocqueville Women’s Advisory Council; and she is also actively involved with the Food Bank for the Heartland, Omaha Symphony, A Time to Heal, Creighton Prep, and All Saints Episcopal Church.
Lance and Julie have two children and are committed to helping women and children at risk in the Omaha community. The couple graciously served as the United Way of the Midlands campaign chairs in 2021.
Annual Meeting Award Winners
The 2021 Campaign Partner Awards recognize businesses that went above and beyond to support United Way of the Midlands during the 2021-22 campaign.
Last year, more than 600 organizations supported United Way of the Midlands during the 2021-22 campaign, empowering us to create lasting change across our community. We believe the following awards capture the unique and varied nature of our partnerships: Volunteer Organization of the Year, New Business Partner of the Year, Corporate Partner of the Year – Leadership Donors and Corporate Partners of the Year. Because we know small organizations can still make a big impact, the Corporate Partner of the Year awards will once again be presented to companies within four different employee-size categories.
Our intent is to award a single winner in each category, but sometimes more than one organization merits receiving this award.
Corporate Partner of the Year: 800+ Employees
These awards are presented to companies in four different size categories. The selection criteria include year-over-year campaign growth, average gift per donor and participation rate.
Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad has been an essential partner of United Way of the Midlands for many decades. This year they continued their traditional campaign efforts and were also able to increase the participation percentage among their Omaha-based employees.
U.P. also became funders of JAG Nebraska and hosted their first Golf for Good Charity Golf event, with UWM as the beneficiary. Altogether, Union Pacific was able to raise over $1.3 million for the 2021 Campaign. Founded in 1862, Union Pacific has been building America for more than 150 years. Starting with the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, through multiple economic crises and conflicts – Union Pacific remains a trusted mainstay on America’s landscape. Today, they are North America’s premier railroad franchise, covering 23 states, operating over 7,000 locomotives, serving over 10,000 customers, and employing over 30,000 individuals.
Corporate Partner of the Year: 200-799 employees
These awards are presented to companies in four different size categories. The selection criteria include year-over-year campaign growth, average gift per donor and participation rate.
American national Bank
American National Bank has generously donated to our community through UWM for over 30 years, and they won this category in 2020. During the 2021 campaign, they continued their growth in a significant way by developing a Tocqueville step-up program. This helped secure new leadership donors and more than doubled the amount raised in 2020 from $45,000 to over $90,000.
American National was established as The Bank of Florence Territory in Nebraska in 1856. Since that time, they have grown to become one of the largest banks in the region with major operations in Nebraska, Iowa and the Twin Cities in Minnesota. They employ over 440 employees and remain headquartered in Omaha.
Tenaska
Tenaska has been an incredible partner of United Way of the Midlands for over 30 years. During the 2021 campaign, they continued their history of strong participation and also heavily emphasized leadership giving. Through these efforts, they were able to grow their leadership donor base with 11 new members. Together, they grew by more than $65,000 year-over-year, and were able to raise more than $430,000 for our community.
Tenaska was founded as a five-person operation in 1987 in Omaha with plans to build one or two power plants. Today, Tenaska is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, a 700-person-strong organization that’s adept in natural gas marketing, power management, development and acquisition of generation assets, operation of power plants and more.
Corporate Partner of the Year: 100-199 Employees
These awards are presented to companies in four different size categories. The selection criteria include year-over-year campaign growth, average gift per donor and participation rate.
Scoular
Scoular’s 2021 campaign saw their participation rate grow…and this, along with a corporate match, led to their campaign growing by more than $60,000 from 2020 to 2021. A partner of United Way of the Midlands for over 30 years, their commitment to UWM has always been strong. Their growth from 2020 to 2021 resulted in $190,000 raised for our community!
An Omaha-based corporation, Scoular was founded in 1892 and they are dedicated to the buying, selling, storage, handling and processing of grain, feed and food ingredients. Today, they’ve grown to over $6 billion in annual sales with more than 1,000 employees operating from over 100 offices, grain elevators and processing facilities in North America and Asia.
Corporate Partner of the Year: Under 100 employees
These awards are presented to companies in four different size categories. The selection criteria include year-over-year campaign growth, average gift per donor and participation rate.
Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Omaha Chamber’s mission is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration. It is one of the country’s largest, strongest chambers, serving as an advocate, catalyst, and partner to its more than 3,000 member businesses.
HOlland Basham Architects
For last year’s campaign, Holland Basham was able to grow their participation percentage to more than 70% and raised over $18,000 for United Way – and this partnership that has been going strong for over 25 years.
Founded in Omaha in 1989, today Holland Basham operates locations in Omaha, as well as Denver, and are proud to offer a comprehensive range of architecture and design services. At their core, they are an architecture and design firm that puts clients first. They pair their talent, expertise and industry experience with the unique vision of each client, resulting in a superior design that works and lasts.
Corporate Partner of the Year: 200-799 employees
These awards are presented to companies in four different size categories. The selection criteria include year-over-year campaign growth, average gift per donor and participation rate.
American National Bank
American National Bank has generously donated to our community through UWM for over 30 years, and they won this category in 2020. During the 2021 campaign, they continued their growth in a significant way by developing a Tocqueville step-up program. This helped secure new leadership donors and more than doubled the amount raised in 2020 from $45,000 to over $90,000.
American National was established as The Bank of Florence Territory in Nebraska in 1856. Since that time, they have grown to become one of the largest banks in the region with major operations in Nebraska, Iowa and the Twin Cities in Minnesota. They employ over 440 employees and remain headquartered in Omaha.
Tenaska
Tenaska has been an incredible partner of United Way of the Midlands for over 30 years. During the 2021 campaign, they continued their history of strong participation and also heavily emphasized leadership giving. Through these efforts, they were able to grow their leadership donor base with 11 new members. Together, they grew by more than $65,000 year-over-year, and were able to raise more than $430,000 for our community.
Tenaska was founded as a five-person operation in 1987 in Omaha with plans to build one or two power plants. Today, Tenaska is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, a 700-person-strong organization that’s adept in natural gas marketing, power management, development and acquisition of generation assets, operation of power plants and more.
Corporate Partner of the Year: 100-199 employees
These awards are presented to companies in four different size categories. The selection criteria include year-over-year campaign growth, average gift per donor and participation rate.
Scoular
Scoular’s 2021 campaign saw their participation rate grow…and this, along with a corporate match, led to their campaign growing by more than $60,000 from 2020 to 2021. A partner of United Way of the Midlands for over 30 years, their commitment to UWM has always been strong. Their growth from 2020 to 2021 resulted in $190,000 raised for our community!
An Omaha-based corporation, Scoular was founded in 1892 and they are dedicated to the buying, selling, storage, handling and processing of grain, feed and food ingredients. Today, they’ve grown to over $6 billion in annual sales with more than 1,000 employees operating from over 100 offices, grain elevators and processing facilities in North America and Asia.
Corporate Partner of the Year: under 100 employees
These awards are presented to companies in four different size categories. The selection criteria include year-over-year campaign growth, average gift per donor and participation rate.
Holland Basham Architects
For last year’s campaign, Holland Basham was able to grow their participation percentage to more than 70% and raised over $18,000 for United Way – and this partnership that has been going strong for over 25 years.
Founded in Omaha in 1989, today Holland Basham operates locations in Omaha, as well as Denver, and are proud to offer a comprehensive range of architecture and design services. At their core, they are an architecture and design firm that puts clients first. They pair their talent, expertise and industry experience with the unique vision of each client, resulting in a superior design that works and lasts.
The Greater Omaha Chamber
The Greater Omaha Chamber had an incredible 75% participation rate in their campaign and were able to raise more than $25,000 for United Way. They have also been a significant partner for over 30 years and have played a role in much of our work, including the Strategic 4Sight initiative, and their employees are heavily involved and have served on our Campaign Cabinet, Community Investment Review Team, and Emerging Leaders Steering Committee.
The Greater Omaha Chamber’s mission is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration. It is one of the country’s largest, strongest chambers, serving as an advocate, catalyst, and partner to its more than 3,000 member businesses.
New Business Partner of the Year
This award recognizes businesses that recently chose to invest in our community through United Way of the Midlands and did not donate to United Way in the prior campaign year. As a first-time campaign partner in 2021, Hudl leveraged a corporate match to encourage employee giving and they were able to raise over $8,950 for United Way.
Hudl
Founded in 2006, Hudl is a Lincoln-based organization and a leading performance analysis company that’s revolutionizing the way coaches and athletes prepare for and stay ahead of the competition. They offer a complete suite of products that empower more than 180,000 global sports teams at every level to gather insights with video and data.
Corporate Partner of the Year – Leadership Donors
This new award recognizes organizations who achieved significant growth with leadership donors – Tocqueville Society and Bridgebuilders.
Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center placed a great emphasis on leadership donors – crafting specific messages to their employee base and encouraging those who could to give at a significant level – leading to their campaign raising more than $450,000.
During their campaign, Nebraska Medicine’s Dr. Linder created a matching program where employees who gave $5,000 would be matched at this level, granting them membership in the Tocqueville Society. Through their efforts, Nebraska Medicine and UNMC were able to secure 70 leadership donors, including 49 who did not give at this level in 2020.
Nebraska Medicine and UNMC can trace their roots back to 1869 with the founding of Omaha’s first Hospital. Today, they have over 9,000 employees, including 1,000 affiliated physicians. They operate two hospitals and 88 specialty and primary care clinics, have become a regional leader in cardiovascular and neurosciences, and have developed an international reputation in oncology, transplant and biocontainment.
Volunteer Organization of the Year
This award recognizes companies who consistently strive to improve our community through volunteerism. The winning company was chosen based on the percentage of their employees who participated in UWM volunteer events during the 2021 campaign year.
Werner Enterprises
Werner Enterprises was an essential partner for United Way’s volunteer efforts and events this past year. For both Shine Bright events in August 2021 and March 2022, the Werner Blue Brigade came to help with clean-up duties at the end of the busiest days. And for our latest Shine Bright event in August – Werner trucks and drivers moved 50,000 hygiene items from the storage facility they graciously donated to UWM to the event site. In addition, they hosted a Good on the Go event where Werner employees put together healthy snack packs for young people at Completely Kids. Founded in 1956, Werner Enterprises is now one of the five largest truckload carriers in the United States and a transportation and logistics leader, with more than 8,000 trucks, 24,000 trailers and nearly 13,000 employees.