Spotlight: Katie Patsche Brings Energy and Heart to Her United Way Campaigns
When it comes to leading a successful workplace campaign, Katie Patsche knows it takes more than just passion. It takes teamwork, creativity, and community spirit. As Chief Lending Officer at Heartland Credit Union and a dedicated Employee Campaign Coordinator (ECC) for the past two years, Katie has become a driving force behind her organization’s efforts to support United Way of Central Illinois.
Katie’s history with United Way runs deep. She served on the Financial Stability Vision Council from 2015 to 2021 and has been involved with campaign efforts long before stepping into the ECC role. She describes the role as “very rewarding,” noting that while it takes involvement from coworkers and leadership to rally the team, the end result is always worth it. “To be able to see the employee comradery, fun, and community impact being made firsthand is something I don’t want to miss each year!”
Her top advice for new ECCs? Involve others in the planning. “The more employees involved, the more successful your campaign will be,” she says. Katie also recommends attending ECC training events and exploring campaign tools on United Way’s website for inspiration and support.
Katie and her team love participating in United Way’s annual Day of Action too, and they continue to give because they know their donations stay right here in the community. “United Way is an organization we support because we know all the money stays local and supports a variety of programs,” Katie shared.
Thank you, Katie, for being a champion for local impact and for setting an incredible example of leadership, service, and community pride.