The United Way of Central Missouri reflected on its past year - the 90th in its history - and looked ahead to the next during its annual meeting on Friday, which attracted about 380 philanthropic business and community leaders.
"Through the years, one thing remains constant - the people in our community need help, and people like you are here to help," said Ann Bax, president of the local United Way. "We're here today to say thank you for that."
Bax said the United Way's 2015 fundraising campaign surpassed its $1.8 million goal, bringing in more than $50,000 extra for the organization's 28 partner agencies. Barb Prasad, outgoing co-chair of the campaign committee, and Stephanie Johnson, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital City, presented awards to individuals who contributed to the fundraising success.
United Way staff and partner agencies selected Ann Littlefield and Claudia Kehoe, longtime volunteers with the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, for the Live United Award. The women help assemble nearly 1,200 buddy packs weekly, providing bags full of non-perishable food for low-income students at Jefferson City, Eugene and Westphalia schools to take home on the weekends.
"The efforts that you (Kehoe) and Ann put together to make that program run flawlessly, is nothing short of miraculous," Bax said.
Carol Davidson, a supporter of the ABLE Learning Center for more than 30 years, received the Linda E. McAnany Award for volunteer of the year. Tami Bock, executive director of Capitol Projects, a sheltered workshop for disabled adults, was awarded the Ruth C. Meloy Award, given to an agency staff member who exceeds expectations. Scholastic employee Lori Massman was honored as the Outstanding Campaign Coordinator.
The United Way also recognized businesses that raised money in large amounts, either through lump-sum donations or payroll deduction.
Top corporate giving included Diamond Pet Foods ($50,000), Speedline Technologies (more than $38,000), Farmer Holding Company ($25,000), Central Bank and Central Techology Services ($23,000) and Osage Ambulances ($20,000). Top employee campaigns through payroll deduction included Central Bank and Central Technology Services ($177,186), Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign (more than $133,000), Scholastic Inc. ($108,781), Ameren Missouri ($85,435) and Jefferson City Medical Group ($44,329).
For their fundraising improvements and internal efforts, organizations and businesses earned various honors. Awards presented included:
• Small Firm Outstanding Pacesetter, Cole County government;
• Major/Large Outstanding Pacesetter, SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital;
• William W. Quigg Small Firm Award, Healthcare Services Group;
• William W. Quigg Major/Large Firm Award, Jefferson City News Tribune;
• Outstanding Signature Event, Missouri Farm Bureau;
• Live United Award, Central Bank and Central Technology Services.
The board of directors added three new faces to its governing body: Greg Meeker of Modern Litho-Print/Brown Printing, Jefferson City Public Schools Superintendent Larry Linthacum and Chip Webb of Ameren Missouri.
Two outgoing board members, Darla Porter of Modern Litho-Print/Brown Printing and Gaye Suggett of Ameren Missouri, were thanked for their service. Prasad ended her two-year term as a campaign co-chair, making way for Jayne Dunkmann, marketing director of Jefferson Bank, to join campaign co-chair Matt Tollerton, with Central Bank, in this year's fundraising efforts.
Janet Wear-Enloe, director of business development and marketing at St. Mary's Hospital, took the reins as the 2016 board chairman, following 2015 Board Chairman Greg Gaffke.
"The wonderful thing about the United Way is that it's less about one person helping another and more about changing systems that help all of us," Wear-Enloe said. "We're all connected and interdependent. We all win when a child has enough to eat and succeeds in school. We all win when families are financially stable; we all win when people are healthy. It's the United Way that makes all of this happen, and it takes everyone in the community to make this change."