The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties announced Tuesday it raised more than $2.9 million in pledges during the 2011 fundraising campaign. The local nonprofit raised $2,955,799.40, breaking its previous fund-raising record of $2.734 million from 2009. More than 93,000 people, or one in three, in Rutherford County received services from a United Way partner agency in 2011. United Way focuses on education, income, health, and rebuilding lives – the building blocks for a good quality of life. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise, and resources needed to get things done through giving, advocating and volunteering. The event also honored individuals and companies, who made the record-breaking campaign possible.
The Top Ten campaigns were:

1. General Mills - $671,325

2. Publix Supermarkets - $274,684
3. Yates Services - $205,220 
4. Rutherford County Government and Schools - $190,698 
5. Nissan North America - $140,494 
6. State Farm Insurance Company - $126,245 
7. MTSU - $81,578 
8. Bridgestone La Vergne Plant and Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund - $67,025 
9. Heritage Farms Dairy - $42,026 
10. City of Murfreesboro - $35,449 

United Way also recognized the best overall campaigns in each category, which were determined on various factors such as percentage increase in employee giving, percentage increase in participation, volunteering with United Way, and conducting special events to benefit United Way. Those campaigns were:

Best Health Services Campaign
Middle Tennessee Medical Center

Best Industry Campaign
Thompson Services, Inc.

Best Non-Profit Agency Campaign
Boys & Girls Club of Rutherford County

Best Professionals Campaign
First Tennessee Bank

Best Retail Campaign
Publix Supermarkets & Publix Supermarkets Charities

Best Major Firms Campaign
General Mills

Best Public Service Campaign
City of LaVergne

Best New Campaign
MAHLE Filter Systems North America, Inc.

Most Improved Campaign
Yates Services

Best Special Event
Rutherford County Government and Schools - Rutherford's Got Talent

Most Creative Campaign
MAHLE Filter Systems North America, Inc.

The school awards were as follows:
Best Elementary School Campaign
Wilson Elementary

Best Middle School Campaign
Rockvale Middle School

Best High School Campaign
Blackman High School

Best Overall School Campaign
Blackman High School

General Mills also received the best overall campaign award for increasing its overall total by 15 percent from last year, a 27 percent increase in the average gift and 25 percent increase in employee donations per capita, among other improvements. For a full list of this year's best overall campaigns, visit uwrutherford.org.