Jefferson City residents Lakaisha McCaleb and Elijah Mayfield stood together on stage at the United Way of Central Missouri's annual campaign kickoff luncheon inside Capitol Plaza Hotel's ballroom.
In telling their stories Thursday, they talked about how United Way partner agencies benefited their lives and they thanked the nearly 300 people in attendance for supporting its philanthropic mission. Agencies, businesses and United Way staff celebrated the end of the Pacesetter Campaign, which raised $870,237 - $39,000 more than last year. Central Bank raised the most at $194,958.
With the announcement, the community campaign begins to reach the United Way's $1.8 million goal.
After campaign co-chairs Barb Prasad and Matt Tollerton announced the total raised for each of the 31 Pacesetters, McCaleb and Mayfield shared what fundraising dollars have meant to them.
In 2010, McCaleb became ill with cancer and another debilitating medical condition, causing her to take medical leave from her job at a St. Louis bank. Unable to support her family financially or pay bills, McCaleb and her two children became homeless.
"I was very, very broken," McCaleb said. "I had no home. I thought that my life was over and sometimes I just wanted to end it myself, but because of my kids I kept going on."
The family moved in with McCaleb's parents and her health started to improve. When her energy sustained, McCaleb attended classes focused on workforce preparation. She wrote her resume and conducted mock interviews. With an interview scheduled, she was ready to go back to work, but her wardrobe was lacking professionally. That's when she was referred to Dreams To Reality, a United Way partner agency that provided her with work attire, a suit, earrings and purses.
"When I got to Dreams To Reality and walked through the doors, I felt so warm," she said. "And the volunteers there were so loving and caring. Before I walked out of Dreams to Reality, I had hope again because of the loving people who were there that dressed me."
Now, McCaleb, 31, has a different outlook on life.
"I am living my dream because each and every last one of you all," McCaleb said, looking around the room. "How you live and how you give is not in vain, because it helps people like me."
Mayfield expressed a similar sentiment as he described how the Special Learning Center (SLC) changed his life, starting as an infant. Diagnosed with Down Syndrome moments after birth, he said SLC gave him the tools to walk, talk and crawl. At 19, Mayfield holds jobs at St. Mary's Hospital and the Capitol delivering mail, including, at times, to Gov. Jay Nixon himself.
To conclude, Mayfield also expressed his gratitude. "I am a good friend to everybody here," he said.
This month, area businesses will hold rock, paper, scissors tournaments with the winners going to the United Way's Rock, Paper, Scissors Survivor 2015 Challenge, a face-off in the Jefferson Bank parking lot, 700 Southwest Blvd., on Sept. 24. Heats will start after a 5-5:30 p.m. social, and could last two hours. Food and refreshments will be available.
More than 400 volunteers will take a break from fundraising to volunteer at partner agencies during the United Way Days of Caring event on Sept. 10-11.
The fundraising campaign ends on Oct. 31, and the victory celebration is set for 8 a.m. Nov. 5 at the Missouri Farm Bureau, 701 S. Country Club Drive.
For more information and a list of fundraising events, go to unitedwaycemo.org or call 636-4100.
Pacesetter Campaign Totals
Central Bank and Central Technology Services: $194,958
Hawthorne Bank: $52,786
Osage Ambulances: $48,860
Cargill: $46,627
Jefferson City Medical Group: $44,603
Capital Region Medical Center: $42,928
Jefferson Bank and Central Mortgage Company: $39,612
MODINE Manufacturing: $36,479
Missouri Farm Bureau: $33,544
United Way staff and partner agencies: $31,749
Huber and Associates: $31,706
SSM Health: $28,000
Modern Brown Litho Printing: $26,499
Joe Machens Capital City Dealership: $23,951
Wallstreet Insurance Group: $23,797
Mid America Bank: $21,011
Jefferson City Government: $19,022
Providence Bank: $17,000
ALPLA: $13,003
GFI Digital: $12,860
UPS: $12,000
Williams Keepers: $11,598
Fechtel Beverage and Sales, Inc.: $11,437
Missouri Hospital Association: $10,984
Cole County Government: $10,060
Heisinger Bluffs - Lutheran Senior Services: $5,122
Schnucks Grocery: $5,000
Septagon: $4,000
Missouri Auto Dealers Association: $3,848
Dillard's: $3,700
Target: $3,494