United Way sets goal, leadership team

Greg Gaffke, chairman of the board of directors for the United Way of Central Missouri, announced Matt Tollerton, at right, and Barbara Prasad as co-chairs of the campaign drive.
Greg Gaffke, chairman of the board of directors for the United Way of Central Missouri, announced Matt Tollerton, at right, and Barbara Prasad as co-chairs of the campaign drive.

The United Way of Central Missouri announced Barb Prasad and Matt Tollerton as co-chairs for its upcoming fundraising campaign, which has a $1.8 million goal.

The announcement was made at a news conference Thursday morning at Jefferson City Day Care, which was one of 15 local agencies that received a total of about $116,000 in one-time grants for this year from the United Way. Some are United Way agencies; others are not.

Ann Bax, president of the United Way of Central Missouri, thanked the agencies and other supporters for attending.

"You're helping make us stronger, better, healthier," she said. "We are changing the lives of people right here in our own backyards, and we could not do that without you. That's what it means to live united."

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the United Way in this community, she said. The United Way of Central Missouri serves Cole, Moniteau, Miller, Osage and southern Callaway counties.

For Prasad, business manager for JCMG Laser & Vein Center, this marks her second year as co-chair of the community campaign. Tollerton, vice president of eCommerce for Central Bancompany, has lived in Central Missouri for nearly 15 years, and has been active with United Way for the past decade.

The $1.8 million goal is just above last year's $1.75 goal, and just shy of what was actually raised last year.

Greg Gaffke, chairman of the Board of Directors, described the co-chairs as "energetic and passionate."

"Thank you again for giving yourself and bringing with you your life experiences, your skills and your passion for the United Way," he said. "I know with your leadership, we'll certainly meet our goal this year."

One-time grant recipients are:

• The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, which received $10,000 to fund the Buddy Pack program to serve 56 more children in the Camdenton R-3 School District during the upcoming school year. The packs contain food for the children and their siblings, and are sent home with the children on Fridays and holidays.

• Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, which received $2,915 to provide enhanced services, training and supplies to leaders willing to serve a troop in an at-risk, low-income or under-served population.

• Jefferson City Day Care, which received $5,781 to buy learning center equipment and an iPad for three classrooms.

• Rape and Abuse Crisis Service (RACS), which received $8,691 to modify the RACS playground to provide a safe area for children to play.

• Salvation Army, which received $6,924 to buy hand dryers, a toilet, an ADA faucet and locking toilet paper holders in its homeless shelter restrooms.

• Special Learning Center, which received $6,890 for renovations.

• Capital City CASA, which received $900 for an LCP projector and a cross-cut shredder.

• Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association, which received $11,300 to fund the transitions program, which is designed to support foster and adoptive youth who are aging out.

• Children's Learning Center of Camden County, which received $12,000 to equip the environment and allow for consultation with an occupational therapist about setup, use, staff training and creation of MSE manual.

• Gateway Industries (sheltered workshop in Miller County), which received $8,700 to expand recycling efforts.

• Habitat for Humanity, which received $850 to build a larger can collection shed for its Cans for Habitat recycling fundraiser.

• Moniteau Christian Ministries Center, which received $10,000 for computer equipment.

• Teens as Parents/JCPS Parents as Teachers, which received $8,500 to support services to the pregnant and parenting teenagers residing in the Jefferson City Public Schools' attendance area.

• Camp Wonderland, which received $9,000 to fund a wheelchair-friendly access to its emergency shelter under the dining hall.

• Common Ground Community Center/FUMC, which received $12,000 for start-up funding to transition its current food pantry to a personal care and household necessity pantry and provide about three months of items to stock the pantry.