Greater Mankato Area United Way’s Volunteer Awards & Thank You event takes place each February to recognize our volunteers’ commitment to improving people’s lives in our region.
Thank you for attending the 2025 Thank You Event Luncheon!
Thank you to all sponsors who made this event possible, and to everyone who volunteered in 2024. Thank you for being a light.
Stay tuned for information on the 2026 Thank You Event Luncheon!
2025 Volunteer Thank You Event Sponsor:
Previous Volunteer Award Winners
United Way 2025 Campaign Chair:
Maria Brown, Exclusively Diamonds
Volunteer of the Year Award (2):
Matt Atwood, Atwood Companies
Paul Lokken, retired
Community Impact Volunteer Award:
Lisa Chesley, Chesley Law Firm
Community Champion Award (2):
Karen Fox, Fox Farm & Fox Haulers, LLC
Abby Van Beek, Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN
Partner Agency Champion Award:
Captain Andy Wheeler, Salvation Army
Spotlight Award (2):
Cathy Brennan, Brennan Companies
Sandy Hasse, retired
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Award (3):
Ramona Morgan, Atwood Companies
Tom Schueneman, Mankato Family YMCA
Hayden Zeigler, Nidec Power - Kato Engineering
United Way Board Chair:
Tyson Twait, Dotson Iron Castings
United Way 2024 Campaign Chair:
Alissa Brekke, Pioneer Bank
Volunteer of the Year Award:
Rita Buck, retired
Community Impact Volunteer Award:
Bob Ihrig, retired
Community Champion Award (2):
Jon Teeslink, Snell Motors
Samantha Kaul, Century 21 Atwood
Partner Agency Champion Award:
Trisha Anderson, Partners for Housing
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Award (3):
Regional Sector: Brett Hart & Julia Sprenger, TBEI
Public/Nonprofit Sector: Karen Wolters, ISD77 / Community Education
Private Sector: Amber Haack, Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc.
United Way Board Chair:
Tyson Twait, Dotson Iron Castings
United Way 2023 Campaign Chair:
Matt Atwood, Atwood Companies
Volunteer of the Year Award (2):
Rachael Moldan, River Ridge Chiropractic
Rhonda Frauendienst, retired
Community Impact Volunteer Award:
Rachel Jones, U of MN Extension
Community Champion Award (2):
Kayla Olsen, Stifel
Troy Olsen, Latitude 44 Plumbing and Heating
Partner Agency Champion Award:
Patrick Clark, MAPS
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Award (3):
Regional Sector: Liz Wille, Madison Lake
Public/Nonprofit Sector: Christi Wilking & Committee, Mayo Clinic Health Systems
Private Sector: Colleen Hogan & Committee, Federated Insurance
United Way Board Chair:
Kevin Velasquez, Blethen Berens
United Way 2022 Campaign Chair:
Melanie VanRoekel, United Prairie Bank
Volunteer of the Year Award (2):
Shirley Lawrence, retired
Sharon Olsen, retired
Community Impact Volunteer Award:
Steve Weisbecker, Lloyd Management
Community Champion Award (2):
Kaila Vollmer, Navitor Specialty Products
Scott Weilage, Wealth Centers of America
Partner Agency Champion Award:
Brandy Brink, Melinda Keim & Rick Sullivan, Beyond Brink Recovery Housing
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Award (3):
Regional Sector: Amanda Kolander, Jay Zender State Farm Insurance
Public/Nonprofit Sector: Crystal Olson, Greater Mankato Growth
Private Sector: Carrie Verschelde, Atwood Management
2021 Campaign Chair:
Jessica Blais, Country 103.5 - Alpha Media
Volunteer of the Year Award:
Steve Weisbecker, Lloyd Management
Community Impact Volunteer Award:
Eric Boelter, Community Bank
Community Champion Award:
Kate Cox, Project for Teens
Nate Erickson, Ophthalmology Associates
Partner Agency Champion Award:
Jenny Stratton, Connecting Kids
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Award:
Private Sector – Rick Sellner, Dotson Iron Castings
Public Sector – Justin Neumann, Mankato Department of Public Safety
Regional Sector – Bill Gronseth, St. Peter Public Schools
Click here to watch our 2021 volunteer recognition videos.
2020 Campaign Chair: Mike Kunkel, CCF Bank
Volunteer of the Year: Matt Norland, Meyer & Norland Financial Group
Community Impact Volunteer of the Year: Justin Neumann, City of Mankato
Community Champion: Tasha O’Hara, (MIO) Mankato Independent Originals
Regional Champion: Diane Beckmann, Thrivent Financial - Waseca
Partner Champion: Ray Brauer, Boy Scouts
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Public/Nonprofit ECL of the Year: Paul Peterson, District #77
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Private ECLs of the Year: Colin McKissick & Christine Hodges, NIDEC/Kato Engineering
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Regional ECLs of the Year: Brandon Mohr & Kayla Cremers, TBEI
View photos of the 2020 Thank You Luncheon
2019 Campaign Chair: Shane Van Engen, Frandsen Bank & Trust
Volunteers of the Year: Melissa Bradley, Snell Motors & Kevin Velasquez, Blethen Berens
Community Impact Volunteer of the Year: Brianna Kerry, Capstone
Community Champion: Cory Abels, CCF Bank
Partner Champion: Jen Theneman, Partners for Affordable Housing
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Public/Nonprofit ECL of the Year: Meghan Velasquez, VINE Faith in Action
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Private ECL of the Year: Katie Dougall, Navitor Specialty Products
Employee Campaign Leader of the Year Regional ECL of the Year: Heather Ahlers, Agropur, Inc.
Board Chair: Kay Wallerich, Wallerich Consulting
2018 Campaign Chair: Eric Boelter, Community Bank
Volunteer of the Year: Jolene Wall, US Bank
Community Impact Volunteer of the Year: Patrick Baker, Greater Mankato Growth
Community Champion: Tonya Hobbie, Bolton & Menk
Partner Champions: Vickie Apel, SMILES & Garry Hart, SMART Transit
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Public/Nonprofit ECL of the Year: Iris Clark, Open Door Health Center
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Private ECLs of the Year: Stephanie Sandey, Navitor & Susan Weingartz, Navitor
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Regional ECL of the Year: JaDee Pals, TBEI
Volunteer of the Year: Lori Benike, SCHEELS
Community Impact Volunteer Award: Trisha Rosenfeld, Xcel Energy
Community Champions: George & Jess, Country 103, Alpha Media
Partner Champion: Cheryl Hamond, Mankato Family YMCA
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Public/Nonprofit ECL of the Year: Barb Macrafic, District #77
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Private ECL of the Year: Mike Kunkel, Pioneer Bank
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Regional ECLs of the Year: Cody Mulcahy & Amy Martius, Cinch in Waseca
Community Impact Volunteer of the Year: Katie Smentek, Mankato Clinic
Community Champion: Jeff Lang (Stunt Monkey), Radio Mankato
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Public/Nonprofit ECL of the Year: Jeff Johnson & his committee, City of Mankato
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Regional ECLs of the Year: Emily Nelson, Round Bank
Employee Campaign Leaders of the Year Private ECL of the Year: Jeremy Pieper, Ridley
Volunteer of the Year: Jolinda Grabinowski
Volunteer of the Year: Phil Slingsby, SCHEELS