United Way raises almost $170K at kickoff

Hits 65 percent of campaign goal in second consecutive record event

October 1, 2013 at 6:00 a.m. | Updated October 1, 2013 at 6:00 a.m.

Jeremy Washington interviews SERVE, Inc. Director Steve Mallinckrodt at the Callaway County United Way kickoff Friday. The kickoff was another record-setting event, raising almost $170,000 of the organization's $265,000 campaign goal. That money will be dispersed to a number of partner agencies, including SERVE, to help the people of Callaway County.
Jeremy Washington interviews SERVE, Inc. Director Steve Mallinckrodt at the Callaway County United Way kickoff Friday. The kickoff was another record-setting event, raising almost $170,000 of the organization's $265,000 campaign goal. That money will be dispersed to a number of partner agencies, including SERVE, to help the people of Callaway County.

After another record-setting year, the Callaway County United Way is 65 percent closer to their $265,000 fall campaign goal.

Nearly $170,000 came in to the organization, which disperses funds among 15 agencies that provide services to those in need in the community, including 4-H, the Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence and Kingdom Projects.

CCUW Board President Glenn Harris said the increase from last year's previous record - the first kickoff to crack $100,000, ending at $116,000 - was "absolutely amazing."

"I was speechless all afternoon (Friday), which actually says a lot," Harris said. "It was bigger across the board. The employee campaigns of our pace setters seemed to pick up, the auction brought more money, the food cart was busier, the Callaway Cruisers were busier both with more cars and a bigger turnout. We just had more people out there than we had in years past."

Another large source of donations for the kickoff included the annual Penny Drive, in which classes in Callaway County schools compete amongst themselves to raise change for the United Way.

McIntire Elementary in Fulton raised more than $2,000, while Hatton-McCredie Elementary in North Callaway brought about $521 to the table.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.