Upcoming United Way of Central Kansas events
• Aug. 18, – Kickoff/fundraiser – 50 years with United Way in our community Peace Love and United Way starting at 6 p.m.
• Aug. 22 -Stuff the Bus from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wal-mart parking lot in Great Bend
• Sept. 6 - Larned Chamber coffee, 9:30 a.m. at Glory Be
• Sept. 6 – Stuff the Bus at Pamida in Larned after the coffee
• Sept. 13 – Great Bend Chamber coffee, 9:30 a.m. at JC Penney
• Sept. 14 – Ellinwood Chamber coffee, 10 a.m. at Ellinwood Grade School
• Sept. 16 – United Mini Golf from 1-3 p.m. at Walnut Bowl
• Sept. 25 – Great Bend Tribune Woman’s Expo, 3-7 p.m. at the Great Bend Convention Center
• Sept. 27 – Duck Race at the rodeo grounds in Larned
• Oct. 12 – Presentation of the poster winners at the Great Bend Panther football game/half-time,
• Oct. 25 – Blackout at the Larned football Game
• Nov. 10 – Casino Night sponsored by Kansas Sidewinders Motorcycle Club located in Ellinwood at their clubhouse
• Dec. 31 – Campaign closes
For more information on these events or to get involved, call 620-792-2403, or e-mail unitedwaycentralks@hotmail.com.
Looking at the energetic group of co-chairs and volunteers lined up for this year’s campaign, United Way of Central Kansas Executive Director Julie Bugner-Smith said she is excited about the 2013 effort. It opens Saturday night.
“They are a great representation of their communities and will be a great asset to United Way,” she said. This team includes Eric and Ronda Sjogren of Ellinwood, Bill Dill of Great Bend and Susan Aistrup of Larned.
The UWCK’s 60s-themed kickoff for the drive will take place Saturday at the Great Bend Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main.
The event, “Peace, Love and United Way” starts at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7. Entertainment is to follow with comedian and magician Gayle Becwar. There will also be a photo booth and other entertainment.
Individual tickets are $40 each, or two for $75. A table of eight can be reserved for $300. For more info, contact the United Way office 620-792-2403 or go online to register for the event at uwck.org under events tab.
Susan Aistrup
Susan Aistrup’s family moved to Larned in 1974 when her father opened his optometric practice. She was raised in Larned and attended Larned schools through high school. After high school, She went to work for her father in his office, and has been in the optometric business ever since, currently employed by Mark Judd, OD in Great Bend.
She has been married for almost 25 years to Paul Aistrup from Hanston. The family has lived in Larned since moving from Hanston in 1993. They have two children, Ethan and Jared who were both raised in Larned and are now attending the University of Kansas.
Susan is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Larned and serves on the parish endowment board. She also volunteers for the Pawnee County Humane Society and Prairieland Food.
“I am very honored to be serving with the United Way and look forward to many rewarding experiences helping the members of Pawnee County in this way,” she said. “I have always appreciated the hard work of all the volunteers involved with United Way and I am very excited to be working alongside my fellow community members.”
Larned has also formed a committee consisting of Aistrup, Jane Fox, Tama Hanson, Keyn Soupiset, Jenny Manry, CIndy Steskal, Janet Fleske, Gary Hartman, Cory Turner and Bethany Skelton. Please notice on the campaign schedule all the great events they have taken on in Larned.
“This is a diverse and energetic group that are bringing United Way’s presence to the forefront in the Larned community,” Smith said.
Bill Dill
A resident of Great Bend, Bill Dill works at the Salvation Army Store. He has headed up the store’s local Christmas Red Kettle Campaign and organized bell ringers. Dill has seen first hand how United Way has helped those the Salvation Army serves.
Eric and Ronda Sjogren
Eric and Ronda Sjogren were born and raised in Lindsborg. After graduating from Bethany they were married and moved to Bartlesville, Okla. During their stay in Oklahoma, Eric taught fourth grade in Caney, Kan., and Ronda worked at Phillips 66 Federal Credit Union in Bartlesville.
In the last 12 years, they made Barton County their home, living in Ellinwood. Eric is currently the Ellinwood Grade School and Middle School assistant principal. Ronda works at Sunflower Bank where she is the branch manager at the Great Bend location. They have two children. Theron, their son is 14 and will be a freshman at Ellinwood High School. Haven, their daughter, who is 11 will be a sixth grader at Ellinwood grade school.
“We are excited to be part of the -2013 United Way Campaign due to the impact it has on the people of Barton and Pawnee County,” Eric said.
In addition, Smith has Ron Smith, Ed Neimich, Gary Burke, Todd Ost, David Thill and Mike Johnson abroad again helping with the oilfield campaign. “These gentleman were instrumental in helping United Way achieve their campaign goal and I has no doubt they will be just as successful in the 2013 campaign,” Smith said.
The goal this year is $235,000. “I always want to remind people that 99 percent stays in our communities,” Smith said. These funds go to help the 21 agencies served by UWCK.
To contact United Way of Central Kansas, visit the office at 1125 Williams in Great Bend, call 620-792-2403, or e-mail unitedwaycentralks@hotmail.com.
