DES MOINES, Iowa–Central Iowans cast 20,600 votes and picked three local nonprofit organizations to receive $8,500 in donations from Veridian Credit Union’s Spark the Spirit giving campaign. Voting results were announced and checks were presented to top vote-getters on Giving Tuesday.
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa received 9,090 votes and the campaign’s top donation of $5,000. Meals from the Heartland received $2,500 with 8,562 votes, and Youth Emergency Services & Shelter received 808 votes and $1,000.
“We created Spark the Spirit to be a cooperative giving experience,” said Shelly McGill, Veridian’s central Iowa regional manager. “By sharing this process, we’re working together to strengthen our community. Now that it’s done, we can all find ways to carry that spirit of giving forward.”
Employees at Veridian’s Des Moines-area branches nominated eight local nonprofit organizations for the campaign, and the public voted from Nov. 15-26 on three to receive the donations.
At right, from left, Neil Kennedy, EP True Branch Manager, Veridian Credit Union; Jessica Jorgensen, Digital Content Coordinator, Animal Rescue League; Ashley Pech, Marketing Coordinator, Animal Rescue League