The islands are calling.
United Way of Central Kansas will open its 2014 campaign Saturday evening, Aug. 17. The theme for the event is “Sail Away with United Way.”
The kick-off will take place at the Great Bend Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main, starting at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7. Entertainment is to follow with comedian, illusionist and “Master of Variety” Mike Bliss, a veteran of America’s Got Talent who now performs regularly in Branson, Mo.
There are still plenty of tickets available, said UWCK Executive Director Julie Bugner-Smith. Individual tickets are $50 each or a table of eight can be reserved for $400.
To complement the Caribbean theme, there will be a tiki bar, and the dress code will include shorts and/or island attire. There will be prizes, give-aways and  T-shirts will for sale at $20 each.
Steering away from the opening night, the concept for the overall campaign is a little more personal, Smith said. The theme this year “It All Starts with You.”
“Underneath everything we are, underneath everything we do, we are all people, connected, interdependent, united,” Smith said. But, each journey starts with one step, or in this case, one individual.
That is the basis for the theme, she said.
The goal this year as been upped to $250,000, but Smith said this shouldn’t be a problem for what she calls a very generous area. “The communities have been great. We have been able to help a lot of people.”
And, she stressed, of what the drive raises, 99 percent stays local. These funds go to help the 21 agencies that fall under the UWCK umbrella.
Helping to steer the 2014 campaign are the co-chairs. These include Bill and Angie Maddy, Jerry and Linda Marmie, and Kevyn and Paulette Soupiset.
 To contact United Way of Central Kansas or to register for the kick-off event or to purchase a T-shirt, visit the office at 1125 Williams in Great Bend, call 620-792-2403, e-mail unitedwaycentralks@hotmail.com, or visit uwck.org and to the the “events” tab.
The tentative schedule for the campaign is:
 • Aug. 9 – 7:30 to 8:30, Payroll Companies Breakfast at the courtyard of Best Western Angus Inn in Great Bend, open to all UWCK payroll companies and any company wanting to be part of United Way payroll campaign is invited to come and learn more.
• Aug. 17 – Kids first-annual Color Run, 7:30 Registration, contact Tatum Dunekack/Linn Hogg to volunteer - tdunkack@cox.net or hoggl@tbccc.edu.
• Aug. 17 – Kickoff/fundraiser – Sail Away with United Way Kickoff, 6 p.m. Social Hour, 7 p.m. Dinner followed by entertainment by Mike Bliss “Master of Variety, set-up at 3 p.m. Friday Aug. 16.
 • Aug. 21 – Stuff the Bus from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Wal-mart parking lot.
• September  – Presentation of posters at Larned Middle School and Ellinwood.
• Sept. 5 – United Way Great Bend Chamber of Commerce coffee at 9:30 a.m. in Great Bend, Dillons will host, 10th and McKinley.
• Sept. 13 – Ellinwood Chamber coffee, 10 a.m. at Sidewinders Club House.
• Sept. 19 – Chamber coffee in Larned at Shopko, 9:30 a.m./ Stuff the Bus to follow.
• Some time in September – United Mini Golf, 1-3 p.m.– If inclement weather occurs they will bowl instead. Chris Battin’s Great Bend High School marketing class is to take this project.
• October TBA- Presentation of the poster winners at the Great Bend Panther Football game/half-time.
• October TBA- Kayettees Black Out for United Way - Kayettes are selling black T-shirts to wear at game for $10 each.
• October – Charity Tree at Barton Community College.
• Nov. 9 – Casino Night at Sidewinders Motorcycle Club located in Ellinwood at their clubhouse on Main Street.
• Dec. 31 – Campaign comes to close.