Alison Manthei, Community Impact Manager at Hallmark, was honored as Employee Campaign Manager (ECM) of the Year at the 2025 Annual Waymaker™ Awards, presented by Hallmark, a well-earned recognition for her leadership and commitment to giving back.
Her role at Hallmark and service to United Way is a reflection of her deep-rooted passion for helping others in need. From tagging along with her mom to volunteer events as a child to innovating engaging events that encourage her colleagues to give back, Alison has always embodied what it means to serve with purpose.
“Giving back is part of how I was raised. It’s kind of how my family went about life,” she said.
Over her 15-year career at Hallmark, she’s worn a variety of hats, but volunteering has remained a constant. Now, she fulfills that passion in her full-time role by helping employees across every department and in every location find their own unique way to give back.
“There’s no typical day in this role,” she said. “But one of my favorite parts is connecting on specifically what they want to do to make the community better and knowing it’s different for every person and that there’s an organization, a cause, or fit for them out there that they can make a difference in.”
From organizing team volunteer projects to matching employees with nonprofit boards, Alison understands that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach both for today’s workforce and the evolving needs of the community. With that, she’s not afraid to challenge tradition.
“I have a lot of respect for tradition, and I like learning from the past,” she explained. “But I’m not necessarily married to how we’ve done things. And I can’t be. Helping to just keep an open mind about what our campaign might look like, and that it will continue to look different, I think is important.”
Alison’s humility is matched by her commitment. Whether she’s pulling nails from a floorboard behind the scenes, packing period kits for girls and women in need, or helping employees navigate tough personal situations with the help of United Way’s 211 resource line, she leads by example.
Alison is focused on creating a culture where community involvement feels meaningful and accessible for everyone. As she continues to evolve what giving back looks like at Hallmark, her work is helping to ensure that the 1 in 3 Kansas Citians in need each day can continue receiving support.
Discover more ECMs making an impact in our community through their workplace here. Watch the recap video for this year’s Waymaker™ Awards Celebration here.