Below is the United Way of Central Kansas’ campaign schedule:
August
• Aug. 2 - 9:30 to 2- Install Born Learning Trails in Great Bend and Claflin.
• Aug. 2 - Unveiling of Born Learning Trail in Claflin at 6 p.m.
• Aug. 5 - Unveiling of Born Learning Trail in Great Bend at Brit Spaugh Zoo at 5:30 p.m.
• Aug. 16 - Kickoff/Fundraiser – Lights, Camera, United Way in Action-, 6 p.m. Social Hour, 7 p.m. Dinner followed by entertainment by Pat McGann, comedian.
• Aug. 20 - Stuff the Bus from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Dillons and Wal-Mart parking lot in Great Bend.
• Aug. 27 - Stuff the Bus from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Dillons and Shopko in Larned.
• Aug. 28 - Payroll Companies After Hours Event 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Courtyard Best Western Hotel. 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.
September
• Sept. - presentation of posters at larned middle school and ellinwood, Great Bend.
• Sept. 4 - United Way Chamber Coffee at 9:30 in Great Bend, Fuller Industries will host, located at 10th and Airport Rd.
• Sept. 11 - Larned Coffee at 9:30 a.m., (location to be confirmed).
• Sept. 12 - Ellinwood Coffee at 10 a.m. at historical Wolf Hotel.
• Sept. - Stuff the Bus in Larned and Ellinwood.
• Sept. 28 - United Mini Golf and Bowling 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
November
• November - Charity Tree at Barton Community College begins.
• Nov. 8 - Casino Night at Sidewinders Motorcycle Club located in Ellinwood at their clubhouse on Main.
• Ring Bells for Salvation Army - TBA.
• Lite to Unite Bike Race - TBA.
Dec. 31 Campaign comes to close.
Join United Way of Central Kansas for its 2015 Campaign Kick-Off on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main in Great Bend. The theme is “Lights, Camera, United Way in Action” with an old Hollywood vibe.
Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and entertainment. Featured performer this year is Chicago stand-up comic Pat McGann, who has appeared on David Letterman in January this year. There will also be prize drawings and T-shirts on sale featuring pearl strands for the women and a tuxedo for the men.
“Thanks to the support of the 2015 Campaign Co-Chairs, Laura and Jim Smith, Dr. Charlie and Denise Joslin, Dr. Perry and Krista Smith, and Pacesetters Chair Rick Chochon, and our volunteer Board of Directors, we are confident that this event and the 2015 Campaign will be a success,” said UWCK Executive Director Julie Bugner Smith.
The goal for United Way of Central Kansas this year is $270,000. “With the generosity of event sponsors and payroll companies in the area, we are on our way to meeting that goal, but we aren’t done yet. We still need the support of our communities to make it happen and we hope that this event will push us even closer to meeting and beating that goal,” Smith said.
With 99 percent of the money raised staying in the communities served by UWCK, every contribution made can make a difference, she said. United Way of Central Kansas helps support 19 community agencies in Barton and Pawnee counties, as well as other programs such as the Born Learning Trail in Claflin and Great Bend, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Ellinwood and Larned.
“Come out and join us for a night of fun and entertainment, all in the name of a great cause,” Smith said. Tickets are still available for purchase by calling 620-792-2403 or visiting www.uwck.org and clicking on “Events.” T-Shirts can also be bought early or the night of the event.
The campaign can also be followed on Facebook at “United Way Central KS” which will featured updates throughout the year.
