United Way Day kicks off 2018 fundraising

Callaway County Commissioner Gary Jungermann and former SERVE director Steve Mallinckrodt take to the airwaves Friday for United Way Day. United Way Day is Callaway County United Way's biggest fundraiser of the year.
Callaway County Commissioner Gary Jungermann and former SERVE director Steve Mallinckrodt take to the airwaves Friday for United Way Day. United Way Day is Callaway County United Way's biggest fundraiser of the year.

Those tuning into the radio Friday may have heard some familiar voices.

Local public figures and organization heads joined forces for the United Way Day Radiothon. This annual event raises funds for Callaway County United Way, which supports 13 local charitable organizations.

"Our goal this year is $270,000," said Megan Prenger, executive director of Callaway County United Way. "Typically, we get pretty close to half of our goal just today. We have an amazing community."

Friday's grand total had not been announced as of press time, but Prenger estimated it at at least $50,000.

Tamara Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Callaway Chamber of Commerce, was one of many local leaders to join volunteer Steve Mallinckrodt for an on-air segment.

"United Way is near and dear to my heart," she said. "I get to see what the organizations it supports do for our community."

Presiding County Commissioner Gary Jungermann also lent his voice to the fundraiser.

"If everyone got a chance to see how these dollars were used, United Way would have no problem raising twice what it does," he said. "The United Way is an organization in this county that I have a lot of faith in. The dollars people donate are well-used."

He said that many of the organizations United Way funds don't have the resources to do that degree of fundraising on their own.

In addition to the radiothon, United Way Day included a barbecue, online auction, raffle,motorcycle show and games for children.

Throughout the day, student representatives from many area schools dropped by to hand in the results of their penny drives.

"We had one little girl today who came down and gave us her life's savings," Prenger said. "There were $20 bills in there."

For more than 18 years, Callaway County schools have raised $117,400 for Callaway County United Way, she added.

"We participate in this because we do lots of service projects throughout the year," said Teri Arms, principal of St. Peter's School. "With United Way, that money stays in town."

In 2018-19, Callaway County United Way is supporting Great Rivers Council - Boy Scouts of America, Callaway County 4-H, Callaway County Senior Center, Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association, Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence, Compass Health, Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, Heart of Missouri CASA, Homemaker Health Care, Kingdom Projects, Inc., Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation, Our House and SERVE, Inc.