PLAINFIELD — The United Way of Hendricks County gathered contributing businesses and individuals together earlier this week at Primo Banquet and Conference Center here for an early morning ‘thank you.’

The Breakfast of Champions honors businesses that participated in the United Way fundraising campaign for the past year, and celebrates the success of the campaign. The theme for the breakfast this year was “Back to the Future,” as this is the 50th year for the United Way’s presence in Hendricks County.

Though Susie Friend, director of the United Way of Hendricks County, said they did not reach their fundraising goal this year, they did come close.

“We raised $871,000 in 2008, that’s $50,000 more than in 2007,” she told the crowd. “It was short of our goal a little bit, short of $900,000, which is the first time in seven years we’ve not met our goal.”

She also said there were 10 new companies to have United Way fundraising campaigns over the past year.

Awards were given to companies that went above and beyond in their campaigns. Businesses such as Balkamp, Hendricks County Senior Services, Osborne Hessey Logistics, DJO in Plainfield, Hendricks Regional Health, Steel Dynamics, Brightpoint, as well as the Plainfield Community School Corporation, and the State Bank of Lizton were among the honorees.

Friend said the success of United Way hinges on support from the community.

“We wouldn’t be able to help lives without your help,” she said. “Your communities need you and you are doing a phenomenal job. Our economy remains a challenge for us all and we tip our hats and say ‘thank you’ to you who choose to live United.”

Gov. Mitch Daniels was the keynote speaker for the event, something Sen. Connie Lawson, R-Danville, said was fitting as she introduced him. She attributed the revamping of the Department of Child Services and the creation of the Healthy Indiana insurance plan to Daniels, as well as reform for other child and family service organizations.

“The book tells us the Lord loves a cheerful giver and not everybody can claim to be a giver,” Daniels said. “We are here on a very American occasion, a very Hoosier occasion. Giving is almost a uniquely American practice.”

Daniels said he was pleased with the work that the United Way is doing in Hendricks County.

“I’ve never been much impressed with the loose way ‘compassion’ gets passed around, but compassion is what you’re doing here this morning, what Susie and Ellen (Annala, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana) do here every day,” he said. “Compassion, that’s what I came here to honor this morning. I’ve come here to thank you and (ask you) to renew your efforts in the hardest times we’ve seen in a long while.”

Daniels said the United Way being in Hendricks County for the past 50 years is a milestone, but added that the next 50 will be just as important.

“If ‘08 was tough, ‘09 will be tougher,” he said. “Businesses aren’t making a lot of money ... we’ve been through tougher times as a state, but we can do this. Yours is a vibrant set of communities and I’m sad to say I can take you to a lot of places in the state (that are worse off), but it is our duty and responsibility because times are tough to do more and to dig a little deeper.

“Now’s the time to put it on full display. After 50 great, great years of service here, your 51st might be the most important yet.”

Raffle tickets were also sold up to and at the event, with proceeds going back to the United Way of Hendricks County. A gas grill, courtesy of Vectren, and two sets of four Colts sideline tickets, dinner, and a limousine ride to the game were raffled off.

Tom Zupancic, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Colts, was also on hand for the event to present the Zup’s Imagination Award to a person or people in the community who are deserving of recognition for the work they’ve done with the United Way. A fund through the Hendricks County Community Foundation was also established with the award.

Zupancic was the original award winner in 2007 when the award was created. It is given as a surprise to the recipient during the breakfast that year.

This year, two people were honored: Mary Kay Hood, director of guest services for Hendricks Regional Health, and Emory Lencke, executive director of the Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“I’m a little shocked and speechless,” Hood said before handing back the microphone.

Lencke, who is on the board of people to decide who to give the award to, was just as surprised.

“We as a group decided to give it to Mary Kay,” he said. “I had no clue (they were going to give it to me too). It’s an honor and a privilege. It’s just been a whole lot of fun.”

For more information on the United Way of Hendricks County, visit the website at www.uwci.org, call Friend at 745-0310, or e-mailing her at susie.friend@uwci.org.

charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com