United Way of Western Nebraska (UWWN) has announced $400,000 as the 2022-23 United Way campaign goal. Campaign Co-chairs Ally Berggren (Regional West Health Services), Dr. Derek Shafer (Box Butte General Hospital) and Shane Wilson (Scottsbluff Screen Print) revealed the goal and commented on their passion for the work of United Way in the community and throughout Western Nebraska.
The new campaign theme is “We Can’t Do What WE do without YOU!” establishing a strong focus on the generosity and partnership in the community.
“We recognize and are thankful for the community support and wanted to honor that this year! United Way relies on generous donors, volunteers and community support to continue and grow our work. Investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in nonprofits and United Way community impact initiatives throughout our service area we know we cannot do the work of United Way without our generous community supports and pacesetter business partners. We all need help sometime and because of you- our community, partner agencies, pacesetter businesses, volunteers all working together- United Way is able to assist in providing that help,” remarked Karen Benzel, United Way of Western Nebraska Executive Director.
United Way of Western Nebraska financially supports 27 nonprofit partners and programs serving 11 counties in the Nebraska Panhandle and Goshen County, WY. The funds raised stay in the local community where they are raised and support United Way partner agencies and community impact work in that community.
Stuff the Bus school supply drive, Bridges Out of Poverty and Fighting Hunger in the Community are a few of the community impact initiatives that were highlighted. Fighting Hunger in the Community mobile food pantries will continue this year in Alliance, Chadron, Scottsbluff/Gering and Crawford and have been expanded to include Sidney, Kimball, Gordon. United Way is serving seven area communities with direct food distributions to food insecure families. The public is encouraged to help support this initiative and purchase a Fighting Hunger in the Community t-shirt for $15 at www.uwwn.org/fighthunger with all the proceeds going directly to fighting hunger in Western Nebraska.
United Way of Western Nebraska awarded the 2022 Pacesetter of the Year Award to Scottsbluff Public Schools for their outstanding dedication to United Way. Melissa Price, Scottsbluff Public Schools Communications Director was surprised with the award at the United Way Campaign kickoff on August 24.
Investing United Way funding availability is based on the amount of funds raised in each of United Way of Western Nebraska’s service areas. Donations are welcome online at uwwn.org or mailed to United Way 1517 Broadway, Suite 106 Scottsbluff, NE 69361. UWWN continues the strong tradition of ensuring that donor dollars stay local and the monies raised in each county stay in the county where they were raised. Learn more about UWWN’s work and mission at www.UWWN.org.
United Way of Western Nebraska is a nonprofit organization that unites people and resources to build a stronger, healthier and more compassionate community. They support 27 local nonprofit agencies in the areas of education, health and financial stability. They have been reinvesting in Western Nebraska since their inception in 1945. For more information, visit www.uwwn.org.