MERIDEN — When the aerospace and manufacturing industry proved especially favorable for Jonal Laboratories this year, owner Marc Nemeth made a second sizable donation to the United Way of Meriden and Wallingford.
At the nonprofit’s annual campaign awards ceremony Wednesday night, Executive Director Maria Harlow said she thought it was a beautiful gesture and called Nemeth to thank him for sharing the company’s good fortune.
The grants and programs the United Way provides wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of donors such as Jonal Laboratories, which was awarded a bronze level plaque for giving between $5,000 and $9,999.
Around 40 awards were given out during the ceremony at MidState Medical Center.
“Every one of you that’s here tonight knows about the impact that we have in the community, but you’re also responsible for that impact. So tonight we’re celebrating our collective success,” Harlow said.
With a few weeks left in this year’s campaign, she said the local United Way is on-track to raise nearly as much as last year.
“Last year through our campaign we raised $740,000 … that enables us to award grants to our partner agencies, to coordinate various holiday programs through our volunteer center, to assist in securing people who are in critical need and to participate in many initiatives that help improve the well being of each person in Meriden in Wallingford,” Harlow said.
Kim Marx, a civil engineer with Burns & McDonnell, said it’s impactful to see a cross-section of companies working to improve the community.
“It’s great to see different companies representing each community striving to help their neighbors,” she said.
Burns & McDonnell was the largest donor during this year’s campaign, with $126,444 given so far.
“We love to give back to the community,” Marx said.
The second-largest donor was Ulbrich Stainless Steels, which gave $57,611, followed by Webster Bank’s $38,142 donation.
Harlow said she was thankful for every organization that donated resources and energy.
“It’s amazing because you see a whole bunch of people who are so invested in the community,” she said.