The partnership between the United Way of Selma and Dallas County and International Paper has always been strong, United Way Executive Director Jeff Cothran said. However, this year the corporate sponsor showed an even stronger interest in community service with a $148,678 donation.

The funds, Cothran said, included $92,024 contributed by employees. This number, he said, was supplemented with a 60 percent match from the company.

“It was a very generous match,” Cothran said. “This accounts for 40 percent of our campaign. It is huge and also great because they cooperated from laborers, middle-management and across the board.”

The company, Cothran said, donated money and time throughout the year.

“They increased the number of people in the Fair Share Givers program by 22,” he said.

The Fair Share Givers donate one hour per month.

International Paper, Cothran said, does a great job of showing its employees that the United Way is a high priority.

“The company buys prizes for employees that give like bikes and tool sets,” he said. “They make a big deal out of it and it shows.”

International Paper currently has three employees on the board of directors for the United Way, said Cothran. There are two from each union and a third from management.

Corporate sponsorships, Cothran said, are extremely important to the success of the United Way.

“Every penny counts,” he said. “Any relationships we can build with corporate sponsors is fantastic.”