Jill said that last year, employee payroll deductions made up 55% of donation totals. She also stressed that when you donate to the United Way, your donation is utilized to help fund projects and programs through a variety of local agencies that include:
Advocacy Network for Children, American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters/Catholic Charities, Early Beginnings, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, LaLeche League, McDonough County Senior Citizens, PACT Headstart, Prairie State Legal Services, Radio Information Services, Samaritan Well, Senior Medication Assistance Program, Wee Care Day Care, WIRC Food Pantry, WIRC Victim Services and the McDonough County YMCA.
Jill invited us to support special United Way events like their annual golf outing May 21st at Gold Hills, "Power of the Purse" - a purse auction in October featuring purses donated by local businesses filled with items from that business and "Casual Day for United Way" next January.
Next week: April program chairman Heidi Collins says we'll have a representative of the Convention and Visitors Bureau as our guest speaker.
Tim reports that we now have as many booster sponsors as we did last year. Thanks to all the members who assisted by contacting the sponsors and getting tickets to them. Debbie says next Monday, April 12, is the deadline for getting sponsors names in for the placemats for our Pancake Day on April 22. She also said it looks like we'll have plenty of help from our own members as well as three WIU fraternities and other volunteers.
President Debbie Vandemark presided at our first meeting of April and welcomed special guests, Division 19 Lt. Gov. Nancy Clayton and Don Perrine from the Monmouth Kiwanis Club and John Moon's guest Don Mutch.
Debbie announced we have received a "thank you" letter from the Good Hope Playground Committee for our donation to their playground project.
Happy Birthday in April to:
John Moon (turning 94) and Dave Stites
Lots of happy people this week. We received "Happy Buck$" from Heidi Collins, Nancy Clayton, Owen Thompson, Jay Carter, Joe Vandemark, Ken Harp, Tim Moss, John Moon and guest Don Mutch.
Joe won the 50/50 Drawing and donated his share to our Kiwanis Pancake Day.
