By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The United Way of Ellis County (UWEC) celebrates its 65th anniversary this year.
Organized in 1953, the earliest financial records Executive Director Sherry Dryden could find date back to 1965.
“Since then, $11.5 million dollars has been raised here in Ellis County,” Dryden announced Friday to the applause of the crowd gathered in Hays for the 2018 campaign kickoff luncheon.
There are currently 15 partner agencies working with the United Way which have provided more than 8,000 services over the past year, according to Dryden.
The 15 agencies offer 21 programs for the health, education and financial stability of Ellis County residents:
- AMERICAN RED CROSS – Disaster Services, Health and Safety, Services to Armed Forces, Biomedical Services
- BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS – Mentoring Program
- CANCER COUNCIL – Counseling Services
- CATHOLIC CHARITIES – Counseling Services
- CENTER FOR LIFE EXPERIENCES – Childcare Expansion Program
- CEREBRAL PALSY RESEARCH FOUNDATION – Family Support Services
- COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES – Improving Quality of Services to Volunteers and Children
- DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST KANSAS – Job Placement Follow Along Program
- EARLY CHILDHOOD CONNECTIONS – Connections Summer Preschool
- FIRST CALL FOR HELP – Backpack for Kids, Info/Referral Program, Meals on Wheels
- HAYS AREA CHILDREN’S CENTER – Early Intervention Services
- OPTIONS – Shelter House Services
- PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER – Ten Steps to Positive Parenting
- SALVATION ARMY – Project Suitcase
- WESTERN KANSAS ASSOCIATION ON THE CONCERNS OF THE DISABLED – Transportation Work Vouch Program
Another program, Wonder Women League (WWL), was organized during last year’s United Way campaign.
Nancy Jeter, a previous UWEC campaign chairman and now co-chair of WWL, said she thought “there are a lot of women in the community that felt like they wanted to do more but didn’t know where to start.”
The new group recently opened the Born Learning Trail in Sunrise Park with the help of volunteers from the Hays staff of Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball.
Scott Boomer, operations director of Hays Eagle Radio and co-host of the morning show on 101.9 The Bull KKQY, is chairman of this year’s United Way fundraising campaign.
Boomer is familiar with the local United Way, having conducted many radio interviews over the years about the organization and its partner agencies. He’s also been the announcer for the United Way during homecoming parades as volunteers collect change in their bright orange plastic pumpkins from the crowds.
He decided to accept the campaign chairmanship because of the many ways the community has supported him and his family.
“Life happens. There are things you don’t plan for, and that happened in my family about five years ago. “My wife, who’s had diabetes since she was a little girl, had to have a kidney transplant to save her life,” said Boomer.
“So we know what it’s like to depend on other people, even though I’m the type of person that doesn’t like to ask for help.
“But these different entities that the United Way helps and donates to and gets involved with, are so very important because everybody has times in their life when they need help. All of us.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. There’s no reason not to ask for help.
“So it’s wonderful when you live in a community like this and the people donate like they do and give like they do, that we have these organizations to help.
“No donation is too big or too small,” Boomer noted. “Everything helps. Whatever the organization is, it’s helping somebody.”
This year’s campaign goal is $400,000.
The United Way celebrated its community kick-off on Saturday with a children’s cook-off and adult scavenger hunt co-sponsored with area businesses. Dakota Schmidt won first place, Bryson Fairbank took second and Caydance Lang took third, all of Hays.
More information about the United Way of Ellis County is available at liveunited.us and on Facebook. Donations may be made online.