TACOMA , Wash. — United Way of Pierce County honored key volunteers and organizations who helped improve the lives of people in our community at the annual Warm Your Heart Community Celebration April 16.

State Farm Insurance received the night’s highest honor, the Spirit of Pierce County Award, for their demonstration of the highest standards of civic engagement and community-based philanthropy.

In addition, Lindsay Pruett and Paul Jackson of KBTC Public Television were named Community Volunteers of the Year for their involvement in Youth United and the early learning efforts, respectively.

Other companies and individuals were honored based on outstanding campaign results, high degree of voluntary employee participation and strong community involvement. Award winners included:

Campaign Volunteer of the Year
Kathi Bradley, Comcast
Kim Hladecek and Robert Kinch, Community Health Care

Campaign of the Year – Public Sector
Tacoma Public Utilities

Campaign of the Year – Public Sector – Companies with less than 100 employees
JC Penney-Puyallup

Campaign of the Year – Public Sector – Companies with more than 100 employees
Rainier Pacific Bank

Community Partner of the Year
Pierce County Early Learning Consortium

Community Volunteer of the Year
Lindsay Pruett, Youth United
Paul Jackson, KBTC Public Television

Community Partner of the Year – Labor
Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Spirit of Pierce County Award
State Farm Insurance

United Way also introduced 2008 Campaign Chair, Tim Farrell of the Port of Tacoma and 2008 Board Chair-Elect, Scott Winship of Vandeberg, Johnson & Gandara.

Watch a slideshow of the event.