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JUNCTION CITY–The United Way of Junction City-Geary County has reached its goal of $160,000 for the 2006 Campaign, according to Marcia Smith, executive director.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the way our community has stepped up and met this challenge,” Smith said. “More people than I could name helped make this accomplishment possible, but the endorsement of our honorary chairs, Mayor and Mrs. Terry Heldstab and LTG Richard Seitz, was invaluable. Now we just need everyone who made a pledge to write those checks during the coming year because the needs are great and continuing to grow.”
Major contributors by their employees through payroll deductions were USD 475, Montgomery Communications, Central National Bank, Valley View Estates, First National Bank, Footlocker and Konza Prairie Community Health Center, which is also a United Way agency.
“It says so much about the hearts of the people who provide services through United Way that Konza employees are one of the largest payroll contributors to United Way,” said Smith. “And we received personal donations from virtually every agency we fund.”
The largest contribution from a foundation was the Bramlage Family Foundation, from a business was Platinum Broadcasting, and from a civic organization was the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary.
Other donations in excess of $1,000 came from Westar Energy, Embarq, Jellison Benevolence Fund, Fort Riley Combined Federal Campaign, Cox Communications; Hoover, Schermerhorn, Edwards, Pinaire and Rombold; Waters True Value Hardware, Kansas Gas Service, Geary County employees, and Veolia Water.
The United Way’s 2007 campaign is already being planned for August and September. Plans are underway to kick off next year’s campaign at a Junction City Generals’ baseball game near the end of their season.
Smith said some of the goals for the upcoming campaign will be to attract new businesses to participate through payroll deductions and to encourage commanders at Fort Riley to see support of the local United Way as a means of taking care of their soldiers.
“The participation from Fort Riley’s Combined Federal Campaign just about doubled this year, and we’re grateful. But we are still a very small part of that campaign, and we hope to spend this year letting soldiers and their families know more about our local agencies and what services we are providing our military neighbors.”
A few of those services include free transportation to medical appointments at Irwin Army Community Hospital through the Armed Services YMCA, the Fourth Grade Learn to Swim program through the Family YMCA, counseling and assistance for victims of domestic abuse through the Crisis Center, medical services through Konza Prairie Community Health, fire recovery services through Geary County Red Cross and emergency food supplies through the Geary County Food Pantry.
The United Way board of directors and allocations committee also recently notified 14 agencies of funding commitments for 2007. Those agencies include two new United Way not-for-profits: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“We are proud to bring these great organizations under the United Way umbrella and help support the important work they do in our community,” said Smith. “Many people don’t realize it is the United Way in their own hometown, made up of volunteers who are probably their neighbors, who determine each year what organizations will receive the money collected by their local United Way.”
CASA trains volunteers to be advocates for children who are in the court system due to abuse or neglect. These volunteers also monitor services that are to be provided to the children according to court orders. Big Brothers Big Sisters match at-risk youth with carefully screened adult mentors. These volunteers provide encouragement and support so the children can reach their full potential.