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Bourbon County United Way kicks off annual fund-raising campaign, 'focus on the future'
By Jason E. Silvers
Herald -Tribune
Fort Scott, Kan. -- The United Way of Bourbon County organization is ready to "focus on the future."
That's the theme for the local organization's 2006 campaign, as was announced at a kickoff event conducted Thursday at Fort Scott Community College that was planned by the United Way Board of Directors.
The event featured several local performers and other speakers, who all plan to do their part this year to contribute to the agency's goals, which include assisting Bourbon County residents, addressing emergency needs, and promoting health, healing and coping in the community.
This year, there are 16 member agencies that receive support and funding from the United Way, officials said.
"That's what we really do here at the United Way," United Way of Bourbon County President Mike Lakeman said at the Thursday event. "It's all about agencies helping themselves."
Some of those agencies this year include Tri-Valley Developmental Services, the Salvation Army, the Keyhole Youth Center, and the Ozark Area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Councils.
Last year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded nearly $10,000 in grants through the United Way of Bourbon County to two local assistance agencies; $7,774 to Mother to Mother Ministries, a local agency that provides food, clothing and other items to area mothers, and $2,000 to The Beacon, a community food pantry and assistance agency.
The American Red Cross also benefits from the United Way, having received several generous donations in the past for Hurricane Katrina survivors in the Gulf Coast, and survivors of the devastating December 2004 tsunami that struck parts of Southeast Asia, India, and Sri Lanka.
United Way of Bourbon County Executive Secretary Patty Gorman said the organization will try to meet its $100,000 goal in pledged donations by December.
"We're shooting for that (December)," Gorman said. "We'd love to see it done by the end of November, but we can use every penny we can get."
The organization fell just short of its 2005 goal, bringing in a total of $95,196 in donations, Gorman said. Gorman and other program officials made a final push in January of this year that brought in an extra $5,000, which was very beneficial at that time since some of the agencies supported by the United Way were in danger of losing funding, she said.
Gorman attributed the decline in contributions last year to rising gas prices and other economic difficulties that local residents were going through.
The Thursday event at FSCC included performances by the Fort Scott High School Select Ensemble Choir, who sang "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," and the FSHS Drama Club, who presented a skit titled "A Good Samaritan" about the importance of assisting those in need. Local resident Robert Nelson sang the uplifting song, "The House I Live In" to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Brief speeches were given by Lakeman and United Way of Bourbon County board of directors member Colleen Quick, who recognized the supported agencies in attendance. The organization's new drive chairman, Jeff Delatorre, also took the podium to announce his involvement in the United Way.
"I encourage you all to support this worthy organization," Delatorre said. Delatorre said he first became intrigued by the United Way when he was young and would watch television commercials that would depict National Football League players helping out in the community through the United Way. The NFL and the United Way have joined forces since 1973, he said.
"That really opened my eyes to how important the United Way is in our community," Delatorre said. "One donation helps out 16 different agencies. It helped the victims of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and floods here (Bourbon County) several years ago. You can rest assured the money will go to the people who need it most," he told the audience.
Program members have recently begun delivering information packets to people and businesses in the community, and are encouraging area residents to make donations, which are always accepted, by contacting the local United Way office, 116 S. Main St., Fort Scott, at (620) 223-0980, or through payroll deduction at businesses and other participating employers, Gorman said.
"It may not seem like much, but $1 a week amounts to $52 a year, and that's a huge donation. Most of us can give that," she said.
In Missouri, the Vernon County United Way campaign officially kicks off Wednesday.