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United Way kicks off '08 campaign
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| Big River United Way officials participated in the Keokuk Labor Day parade Monday. They are scheduling more visible activities as part of their fund-raising efforts. |
By Steve Dunn/Gate City Managing Editor
Big River United Way officials are making themselves more visible in the community in an effort to meet or exceed their fund-raising goal of $150,000.
The theme of this year's fund-raising campaign is “Live United,” which coincides with the national United Way theme.
Rather than hold a specific kickoff event, several activities will be held throughout September and October to encourage people to donate to the organization, which provided funding for 14 non-profit groups last year.
“We're showing people their contributions stay local, are managed by a local board and address issues in the Tri-State Area,” said executive director Ivy Tuck, who is working on her third fund-raising campaign for Big River United Way.
For example, Big River United Way will sponsor a hole at the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce golf outing at noon on Sept. 15 at the Keokuk Country Club and Deer Run Golf Course in Hamilton, Ill.
Big River United Way also will provide the “Good Morning, Keokuk” segment during the Recognition, Appreciation and Participation Breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express on Thursday, Sept. 18. The event starts at 7 a.m.
In addition, representatives of the organization will speak at Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary club meetings and operate a concession stand at a Rat Park car show at Hy-Vee.
In October, a portion of meals at local restaurants will go to Big River United Way. The organization also will host a Chamber After Business at Tipenecker's Tap.
Actually, Big River United Way started making public appearances in June when it conducted a fish fry at the Keokuk Yacht Club. Then they were involved in a sporting clay event at the Smokin' Gun Club near Hamilton, Ill., in July and the Rollin' on the River Blues Festival in Keokuk in August.
The new fund-raising campaign will continue until the end of December. Any non-profit is eligible to apply starting in early November when applications are available. Then in January 2009 applicants will appear before Big River United Way's hearing allocation board.
Big River United Way breaks its recipients into two categories: Priority need organizations and general needs organizations. A survey three years identified youth activities and substance abuse as the top two priorities in the community. Seventy-five percent of the money collected from now until the end of December will go toward the priority needs, Tuck explained.
The organizations that received United Way financial support last year were Alcohol and Dependency, American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Child Abuse and Prevention Council, Clark County Senior Center, Food Bank of Southern Iowa, Hope Center, Keokuk Area Hospital Home Health Care, Keokuk Community Pre-School, Ladies of Charity, Lee County Health Department's Hospice, Mississippi Valley Council of Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, Shining Trail Council of Girl Scouts, Tri-State Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse, and the Hoerner YMCA.
The total number of individuals, families and children served by those 14 organizations was 42,847.
Last year, Big River United Way raised about $130,000 with a goal of $150,000.
“Making changes each year helps us get closer to the goal each year,” Tuck said.
The theme of this year's fund-raising campaign is “Live United,” which coincides with the national United Way theme.
Rather than hold a specific kickoff event, several activities will be held throughout September and October to encourage people to donate to the organization, which provided funding for 14 non-profit groups last year.
“We're showing people their contributions stay local, are managed by a local board and address issues in the Tri-State Area,” said executive director Ivy Tuck, who is working on her third fund-raising campaign for Big River United Way.
For example, Big River United Way will sponsor a hole at the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce golf outing at noon on Sept. 15 at the Keokuk Country Club and Deer Run Golf Course in Hamilton, Ill.
Big River United Way also will provide the “Good Morning, Keokuk” segment during the Recognition, Appreciation and Participation Breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express on Thursday, Sept. 18. The event starts at 7 a.m.
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In October, a portion of meals at local restaurants will go to Big River United Way. The organization also will host a Chamber After Business at Tipenecker's Tap.
Actually, Big River United Way started making public appearances in June when it conducted a fish fry at the Keokuk Yacht Club. Then they were involved in a sporting clay event at the Smokin' Gun Club near Hamilton, Ill., in July and the Rollin' on the River Blues Festival in Keokuk in August.
The new fund-raising campaign will continue until the end of December. Any non-profit is eligible to apply starting in early November when applications are available. Then in January 2009 applicants will appear before Big River United Way's hearing allocation board.
Big River United Way breaks its recipients into two categories: Priority need organizations and general needs organizations. A survey three years identified youth activities and substance abuse as the top two priorities in the community. Seventy-five percent of the money collected from now until the end of December will go toward the priority needs, Tuck explained.
The organizations that received United Way financial support last year were Alcohol and Dependency, American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Child Abuse and Prevention Council, Clark County Senior Center, Food Bank of Southern Iowa, Hope Center, Keokuk Area Hospital Home Health Care, Keokuk Community Pre-School, Ladies of Charity, Lee County Health Department's Hospice, Mississippi Valley Council of Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, Shining Trail Council of Girl Scouts, Tri-State Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse, and the Hoerner YMCA.
The total number of individuals, families and children served by those 14 organizations was 42,847.
Last year, Big River United Way raised about $130,000 with a goal of $150,000.
“Making changes each year helps us get closer to the goal each year,” Tuck said.
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