Delta Faucet, RJE Business Interiors and United Water Indianapolis won the award that recognizes exemplary and consistent volunteer and financial engagement in UWCI's mission: helping people learn more, earn more and lead safe and healthy lives. This is the seventh year in which the award has been given.

The three join 24 other previous winners in helping accelerate community change through United Way of Central Indiana.

Headquartered in Indianapolis with manufacturing plants in four locations around the world, Delta Faucet has earned United Way's coveted Company that Cares distinction for six consecutive years. Both the company and its 384 employees have increased their investment in the community each year over the past four years. Employees also volunteer their time by serving as agency evaluators, members of United Way committees and more. The company follows a best practice of allowing time for employees to learn about community needs. It pays dividends beyond financial. Last year, for example, after learning about United Way's Education priority Delta employees decided to donate hundreds of books to benefit United Way's ReadUP tutoring program. Many also seek volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

The first company to ever earn United Way's Spirit United recognition a second time, (2009 was the first) RJE stands out not only for its 100 percent giving but also for providing year-round leadership in United Way's governance, fundraising and visibility efforts. On the company's website, they describe not wanting to let their customers down. When it comes to helping United Way drive community change to improve lives, they hold themselves to the same standard by consistently raising and exceeding their own goals. That mindset of RJE's 50 some employees resulted in their achieving United Way's Company that Cares honor for 15 years, every year since the award was established.

Providing wastewater collection and treatment services for the city of Indianapolis and surrounding communities, United Water Indianapolis has turned its community engagement through United Way into an "event" that employees look forward to. The result was a 62 percent increase in fundraising in 2014, due in part to a new employee matching gift along with a corporate gift. For three years, the company was named a United Way Company that Cares. That puts them in the league of businesses that recognize improving education, income stability, health and basic needs in partnership with others as a key aspect of doing business in Central Indiana.

To be eligible for Spirit United Award, a company has to have won United Way's Company that Cares Award for the past three years and provided significant volunteer, financial support and other resources above and beyond a successful workplace campaign in support of United Way of Central Indiana's mission.

Recipients were chosen by a volunteer task force of previous winners. Each Spirit United honoree receives a custom-designed award created by Herff Jones, Inc.