Scottsbluff – United Way of Western Nebraska surpassed their 2023-2024 campaign goal of $400,000 by raising $431,533. Campaign Co-Chairs Dr. Sam Mark (Mark Chiropractic), Monica Shambaugh (CAPstone Child Advocacy Center) and Kiersten Richards (Bean & Steams Coffee House- Sidney) were key to exceeding the goal this year. Loaned Executives along with the three campaign co-chairs assisted in campaign presentations and actively assisted in raising funds for United Way. Funds are raised annually through individual donations, corporate donations and United Way special events. $237,530 was raised by United Way’s 38 Pacesetter Partner Business and over $80,000 through special events.
United Way Executive Director Karen Benzel highlighted how important the community is in raising funds for United Way. Benzel noted, “We are grateful for every dollar the community donated in support of United Way. Surpassing our fundraising goal is remarkable and is a testament of the many United Way supporters throughout our service area. From our campaign co-chairs to our loaned executives, the volunteer hours to support the work of United Way and our mission to support local non-profits in their work is significant.”
Funds raised are used to support United Way community impact initiatives and local non-profits partner agencies in the eleven Western Nebraska Panhandle counties plus Goshen and Platte Counties in Wyoming that are actively focused on health, education and/or financial stability. United Way tracks the dollars raised in each county to ensure that donor dollars remain local and impactful in the communities where they are given. United Way funding is open to non-profits that focus on financial stability, education and better health in United Way of Western Nebraska’s service area. Local non-profit agencies like Northfield Haven, East Point Horspice, Buck Therapeutic Riding Academy, Camp Scott, The Doves Program, Community Table and the Scottsbluff/Gering Soup Kitchen rely on United Way for support. Current community impact initiatives include Fighting Hunger in Our Communities, AmeriCorps Seniors, Stuff the Bus, and Imagination Library.
United Way of Western Nebraska is a nonprofit organization that unites people and resources to build a stronger, healthier and more compassionate community. UWWN currently supports 26 local nonprofit agencies in the areas of education, health and financial stability and provides key community impact initiatives to the local community. United Way has been reinvesting in Western Nebraska since their inception in 1945. For more information, visit www.uwwn.org.