– Photos courtesy of UW
The United Way for Clinton County hosted its 2024 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 9 at Trinity Hope Center to discuss the 2023 campaign, approve new board members and positions and set goals for the upcoming campaign in 2024.
The meeting began with an introduction by outgoing President Chris Vawter, who thanked Executive Director Anita Stewart, the current board and the community for making his term one to remember. Vawter introduced the new board members for the upcoming campaign season and discussed more about their roles.
Heider Turner, Sofia Santos, Jazah Jones, Alyssa Allison, Alexa Evans, Chelsea Boling, Josh Fossnock, Nicholas McDonald and Bridget Ailor were named as the nine newest board members for the United Way for Clinton County.
Tristen Comegys was announced as the new President, Jazah Jones and Sofia Santos were named as first vice-presidents and campaign chairs, Karen Gregerson was named as the second vice-president and treasurer and Becky Davis was named as the first vice-president and allocation chair.
Vawter transitioned into speaking about the 2023 campaign season, stating that in 2023, the United Way for Clinton County set a campaign goal of $475,000 and raised $437,289, which set the United Way at 92% of its goal. Vawter commented that the campaign season consisted of numerous risks that may have impacted the overall funding, but the lessons learned will become invaluable to the board and organization going into the future.
“Last year, we tried to do something different,” Vawter said. “We didn’t have a campaign chair, which a lot of things were learned in that process, but it actually, in my opinion, brought our staff and our board and forced us all to work with our agencies.”
As a means to fundraise for the campaign, local businesses dedicated themselves as 365 sponsors, donating $1 every day for a total of $365 donated by the end of the year. As well, the United Way hosted its Wacky Quacky Duck Derby for the first time, raising $4,928 toward the campaign, and Stewart announced that the event is being planned for the 2024 campaign as well. Stewart also stated that the silent auction raised $4,221 for the campaign. Vawter concluded his statements by expressing that regardless of whether the United Way reached its goal set for the 2023 campaign, the United Way will continue its outreach with local organizations to continue promoting the range of resources available to the Clinton County community.
“While we didn’t meet our goal, we’re very optimistic in the future,” Vawter said. “That’s still an incredible amount of money that will get to go back in Clinton County to support our agencies and the things they do here in our community.”
Barb Gerald was awarded with the Community Impact Award for her work serving the Clinton County community and local nonprofits through her baking by supplying the cookies for sale during the Cookies for a Cause event held at the Chamber of Commerce twice a month in support of different nonprofits.
“She has made a difference with 15 organizations over the last 16 months, and she’s raised $18,908,” Stewart said. “She bakes 60 to 65 dozen cookies for each sale, which is twice a month. That’s over 120 dozen cookies. I personally don’t think I can do that. Since the start of cookies for a cause, she has made 1,920 dozen cookies. Her passion is to help the community with her cookies, and she bakes so she can help with many organizations.”
Once Gerald returned to her table after being presented the award, she shook her head in disbelief, humbly expressing that in her view, the community deserves the award for raising the money through the fundraiser rather than her as she just serves as the baker.
“I just bake the cookies,” Gerald said. “It’s the community that buys them and raises the money. I just bake them.”
The Frontier Girls were awarded with the You Make A Difference Award, which recognizes community members who seek opportunities to make a difference in the county. The Frontier Girls have served over 323 service hours from April 2023 to March 2024, including ringing the bell for Salvation Army, raising items for the Tour of Trees and much more.
Tammy Koger and Alyssa Allison were awarded with the Volunteer Individual Award and The Farmers Bank was awarded with the Volunteer Organization of the Year Award. Rossville School Corporation was recognized as the school system in Clinton County that showed the most growth throughout the year for the campaign.
The attendees were also treated to three impact stories, including the story of Bear from Suncrest Elementary School where he serves as a support animal for the children, and his purchase was initially funded in-part by the United Way. Community members also heard more from the Open Door Clinic about the Diabetes program and how the United Way’s funded aided in the establishment of the program and the Friends of the Frankfort Community Public Library about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library that has been funded with the help of the United Way.
