HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) - Greater Ottawa County United Way officials announced on Thursday night that the 2013 campaign raised over 2.23 million dollars, which was 97 percent of its 2.3 million-dollar goal established at the start of the effort last September. They admitted that the goal was somewhat ambitious, and point to the loss of 53 thousand-dollar grant that was available the two previous campaigns, but wasn't able to be renewed this year, as one of the factors for falling just short. There were increases of four percent in employee giving and six percent in individual giving, which accounted for 1.7 million dollars of the overall total.

There was a noticible increase in volunteerism as well, with a fourth straight year of more than six thousand helpers, with nearly seven thousand donating their time during the calendar year that ended on Thursday night. The 128 thousand hours of service was valued by agency officials at 2.8 million dollars. 

Earning accolades for their efforts during an end-of-the-campaign Celebration Dinner at the Doubletree Hotel were Bob Van Dyke for workplace campaign coordinating and the Bos family, founders of the vending company, for three generations of service to United Way causes.