SPRINGFIELD -- At a Campaign Celebration on Wednesday evening, United Way of the Ozarks Campaign chair Maurice Henry, senior vice president of Associated Wholesale Grocers, announced that $3,500,000 has been reported in this year’s annual United Way campaign.

“We are thrilled that this campaign has raised this amount of money so far.  As we all know, the uncertainty of the economic environment was a factor that we weren’t sure what affect it would have on this year’s efforts.  But once again, the people in this community have recognized the needs and come through for those men, women and children who need help and assistance,” said Henry.  “This campaign was made up of some highs, some lows and those that came in even with their previous year’s numbers.  All of which is amazing, considering what each company was challenged with through the past months."

 Henry says some of the highlights of this campaign are:

--Old Missouri Bank doubled its campaign total this year to $6,000
--Evangel University increased its campaign by $3,200 to $17,700
--City Utilities employee campaign hit $168,000 – a $7,000 increase over 2008
--Kraft Foods Springfield employee campaign increased its campaign total by $12,000 this year
-- In its employee campaigns, CoxHealth Systems hit $104,000, Missouri State University came in at $100,000 and St. John’s Health hit $193,000
--City of Springfield employee campaign hit 93% of its campaign goal and had 610 employees participating in this year’s campaign
--The 10th Annual ANPAC Car Show for Kids surpassed last year and raised $21,000 for United Way
--Associated Wholesale Grocers – “Chip in for Charity” In-Office golf tournament raised $37,000, up from last year’s $21,000
--Overall, AWG employees raised over $89,000 - $26,000 over last year’s total
--Boys & Girls Town and Big Brothers/Big Sisters significantly increased their employee campaign numbers this year

”We have so many incredible United Way volunteers. They worked so hard on this campaign and it shows with the $3,500,000 they brought in! What is really amazing is that this is $56,000 over what was raised last year.  We owe them a big thank you!” said United Way of the Ozarks President and CEO Jennfer Kennaly.

The 2009 United Way Campaign Cabinet, made up entirely of community volunteers, contributed many personal hours and efforts to leading the campaign to its result.  Those cabinet member are listed below by division:

Business & Industry:  Tom Vanhooser, SMC Packaging; Jim Robeson, 3M; Gary Robinson, SMC Packaging; Josh Sapp, US Bank, Chris Cochran, SMC Packaging 

Commerce:  Tommy Smith, Chair, AWG,  Inc.;  Kelli Henry, Ethan Allen, Steve Miller,                 ; Steve Blattert, AWG; Terry Leonard, AWG; Jeff Reaves, AWG; Deb Golden, AWG; Charlie Lynn, AWG

FIRE (Financial, Insurance, Real Estate):  Joe McCarty, Chair, Empire Bank, retired; Bob Berlin, Empire Bank, Bob Stevenson, Smith Barney; Nina Cogdill, Empire Bank; Judy Hadsall, CU Credit Union 

Public Service: Chief Lynn Rowe, Springfield Police Dept; Nancy Berlin, Agencies; Collin Quigley, City of Springfield; Pat Dierking, City Utilities; Darrell Moore, Greene County; Organized labor, Kelly Hall; Steve Duelen, JayLyn O’Conner, State; Bill Brayman, Federal

Professionals:  David Sims, Chair, David Sims Coaching, Inc; Alan Bates, Bates Architects; Kim Nichols, Smith Barney, Ted Dick, American Detection 

Health & Education:  Dr Norman Ridder, Chair, Springfield Public Schools; Joel Doepker, OTC; Julie Jones, St. John’s Health Systems, John Hursh, Cox Health

Ozarks Area:  Buddy Ball, O’Reilly Automotive, retired; Elyce Reaves, Rogersville 

Leadership & Special Gifts:  John & Roseann Bentley; John Himmel, Commerce Bank; Dr Nancy O’Reilly, O’Reilly Health & Wellness Consultation Services

Campaign Spokesman:  Ned Reynolds, KY3

Labor Chair:  Kenny Boggs, Teamsters

UW Agency Partner Team Chair:  Nancy Berlin, The Victim Center

United Way kicked off the campaign on Sept. 9 and announced a 2009 campaign goal of $3,515,000.  The campaign celebration marks the ceremonial end of the campaign but some campaigns are still finishing up. 

“I feel confident that we will be able to hit our goal near the end of the year," said Maurice Henry.

As an incentive to attract new leadership level donors,   Community Foundation of the Ozarks offered a $25,000 leadership challenge grant to United Way for the 2009 campaign.  Any new leadership level gift of $500 or more would be matched 100% by the challenge grant. This grant challenge was fully utilized during the 2009 campaign. 

United Way of the Ozarks is a locally governed, volunteer-driven organization whose Mission is to increase the understanding of human needs and mobilize resources to meet those needs. United Way of the Ozarks funds over 60 partner agency programs and initiatives that address critical health and human service needs in a 14 county area.