United Way kicks off fundraising campaign

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Nevada Daily Mail

The United Way held its 2014-'15 campaign kickoff breakfast, with members of the funded agencies and city and county officials attending.

Campaign co-chair Adam Dean and Ross Lawrence, a member of the board of directors, set the tone for the event.

Dean announced the campaign's goal of $112,000; "a number that we know is reachable as that was our goal last year. And we made that."

Lawrence used a sports analogy to share this year's slogan "Make the winning play, give the United Way."

"The goal number is just a means to an end," Lawrence said of the fund drive financial target. "The real win comes from the fact that the money goes back into the community.

"This takes everyone to make it happen. The money we raise will change the life of people in the community and it will make our community a better place to live."

"We want to be good stewards of your funds so we can best benefit Vernon County," added Dean.

Members of the attending organizations gave a quick overview of their efforts.

Children's Mercy Hospital served over 500 children in 2013, with 541 in-patient and 1,639 outpatient days, with $700,000 in "pure charity care."

Community Outreach operates the emergency food pantry, as well as provide back to school supplies, food baskets for the holidays, and works with the community garden and Healthy Nevada. The Outreach serves approximately 850-900 clients.

The Vernon County Ministerial Alliance works to provide for multiple needs and helps "take care of our poor." Assistance was provided to more than 880 residents and travelers last year.

Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland serves about 300 girls, helping to "build confidence, character, and courage."

"United Way support allows us to fill in the financial gaps for those girls who can't afford some of the things we do."

The Red Cross does more than just collect blood, providing training for CPR and lifeguards, taking part in disaster drills and providing emergency assistance, including contributing more than $9,000 in aid to county fire victims last year.

Birthright of Nevada offers emergency pregnancy service in a non-judgmental manner, helping more than 90 clients and 14 Birthright babies since May 2013, as well as providing 35 layettes to new moms.

The Council on Families in Crisis, Moss House, serves victims of domestic and sexual violence, assisting around 300 last year. Moss House serves 781 meals each month.

The University of Missouri Extension of Vernon County coordinates the popular 4-H program, but also has a nutrition education program to serve low-income residents.

Vernon County Child Advocacy works to help educate and prevent child abuse, offering parenting classes, a family fun night, a foster care camp for children, and various educational outreach programs, including one targeted to fourth graders in all Vernon County schools.

The Children's Center of Nevada is working to raise funds to build a new facility while continuing to provide services for children who have been subjected to abuse. The only paid employee is a victim's advocate and the center is shared with Bates County. The center provided services to more than 100 children in 2013.

Vernon County People for Pets works to educate the public on the importance of vaccination and spay and neuter programs. The all-volunteer agency also has a "rehoming" program, which helped place about 100 animals last year.

Other agencies that didn't give presentations, but are United Way funded agencies. include the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, Nevada Youth Recreational Baseball, Ozarks Trail Council Boy Scouts of America, the Special Olympics Missouri southwest area, the Neighbors Center, Vernon County Adult Recovery Court, and the Vernon County Senior Center, which hosted the breakfast.

DARE teaches children in Nevada and Vernon County schools, from grades K through 12, how to resist peer pressure and live productive, drug and violence-free lives.

Nevada Youth Recreational Baseball had 192 children participate during the 2013 season, with United Way funding helping offset the costs of uniforms and equipment.

Special Olympics offers opportunities year-round in sports training and athletic competition to more than 213 athletes in Vernon County.

The Neighbors Center provides daytime care for those 18 and older who can't be alone during the day.

The Adult Recovery Court aims to have defendants achieve sobriety and become productive, law-abiding citizens. Since July 2001, they have graduated 82.

The Vernon County Senior Center provides those 60 and older weekday meals in the center and home-delivered meals every day. The center also provides transportation, recreation, tax preparation, entertainment, fitness classes, health and nutrition education, in-home housekeeping and personal care services, as well as information and assistance.

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