United Way exceeds goal

Tribune photo/Jason E. Silvers The United Way of Bourbon County Board of Directors line up Thursday, following their regular meeting, to thank all of the individuals, businesses and other organizations that helped the assistance agency exceed its annual fund-raising goal of $100,000. The agency brought in more than $103,000 through pledged donations and fund raisers during its 2006 campaign, the theme for which was 'Focus on the Future.' This funding helps the United Way provide support for 16 area agencies that deliver services within the community.

The United Way of Bourbon County recently exceeded its monetary goal for 2006, something the organization had not previously achieved within the last five years, officials said.

Mike Lakeman, the president and board chairman of the local organization, said Thursday during a United Way Board of Directors meeting that the agency brought in $103,331 through its "Focus on the Future" campaign in 2006. Lakeman said the last year the organization had met or exceeded its annual financial goal was 2002.

The agency, which helps Bourbon County residents with emergency services and other community assistance, had a $100,000 goal in pledged donations and fund raisers for 2005, United Way of Bourbon County Executive Secretary Patty Gorman said. There are 16 area agencies that receive support and funding from the United Way. Some of those agencies were in danger of losing funding last year, but by extending the campaign into January 2006, the agency managed to bring in more than $95,000, just $5,000 short of the goal.

The agency's board of directors is thrilled to not only meet, but surpass their goal this year, Gorman said.

Local donations to the agency stay in Bourbon County and eventually become investments in the community, an agency statement said.

One popular method of donating to the organization that officials recently implemented is the payroll deduction method, in which employees of local businesses and other employers may donate money from their paycheck each month. An employee who donates one hour's pay each month during the year would benefit thousands of Bourbon County residents, the statement said. This could mean an annual contribution of between $61 and $120 per employee each year to the organization.

Agencies that benefit from United Way funding include the Bourbon County Senior Citizens Center, Tri-Valley Developmental Services, the Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Southeast Kansas Respite Services, area 4-H clubs at the Bourbon County Fair, United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas, the Salvation Army, Buck Run Community Center, Kansas Legal Services, the Crisis Resource Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc., the Ozark Area Girl Scouts Council, the Boy Scouts Ozark Trails Council, the Hospitality Fund, the Keyhole Youth Center, Mother to Mother Ministry, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bourbon County.

One of those agencies is Tri-Valley Developmental Services, a Chanute-based facility that helps adults and children with developmental disabilities. The company also operates a facility in Fort Scott and Humboldt. United Way funding helps TVDS staff provide needed services and programs for their clients within the community.

"We look at our programs and available funding, utilizing the support from the United Way where it will best serve clients," TVDS Executive Director Maury Thompson said.

In 2006, United Way funding from its 2005 campaign allowed Tri-Valley to enhance support to developmentally disabled clients living in their own homes in the community. Some of that money is used to serve Tri-Valley clients in the training and support they need in order to secure employment within the community, a statement from the company said.

"The financial support from the Bourbon County United Way supports Tri-Valley's mission to provide opportunities to our citizens with developmental disabilities, so that they are able to fully participate in community life," Thompson said.

The American Red Cross also benefits from the United Way, having received several generous donations in the past for the victims of recent large-scale disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, India, and Sri Lanka.

In 2006, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded almost $10,000 in grants to two local assistance agencies; $7,774 to Mother to Mother Ministries, a local agency that provides food, clothing and other items to mothers; and $2,000 to The Beacon, a community food pantry and assistance agency.