Bill Martinetto was born and raised in Grand Rapids and graduated from Grand Rapids High School. After earning a degree in Finance from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Bill returned to the Grand Rapids area. He and his wife Tashanna and their children enjoy spending time with family and friends and taking advantage of the area’s resources by being outdoors as much as possible. Bill and Tashanna enjoyed growing up in Itasca County and intend to make Grand Rapids their long-term home.

What inspired you to be involved with United Way?

I was inspired originally after experiencing the mission of United Way firsthand at the annual campaign celebration a few years back.  Since then, I have volunteered at events, participated on the allocations committee, served as campaign co-chair, and am now working with the board.  Each opportunity has inspired me to continue to stay involved.  It’s truly rewarding.

What is the most rewarding thing you have taken from this experience?

The most rewarding thing for me has been meeting the people who work day in and day out to battle some of the challenges we face in this community.  These people are inspiring in so many ways and are leaders in the community.  The organizations United Way represents provide an avenue to service the needs in the community, and the work being done is greatly appreciated.

What is one word you would use to sum up United Way’s work?

Progressive

What impresses you most about Itasca?

The people.  People are committed to making Itasca a vibrant community.  They are selfless and welcoming.  Itasca is a wonderful place to live or vacation, and that’s a result of people continually acting for the betterment of the community.

What is one thing about United Way that you think most people don’t know?

United Way’s staff, board and volunteers spend a lot of time getting to know the programs and organizations that they ultimately invest in. United Way makes educated decisions to make the biggest impact possible with each investment.

What advice would you give to a potential donor who is considering investing in United Way?

An investment in United Way is an investment in the community. United Way puts forth a lot of time and energy to find the greatest needs in our community and invests appropriately to make the biggest impact.  The entire community benefits from the work United Way is doing to help make this community a better place to live, work, and play.