After surpassing their fundraising goal, the United Way of the Pennyrile, participating agencies and members of the community came together to celebrate the 2023-2024 campaign and to honor those who played vital role in it on Tuesday.
In September, United Way Campaign Co-Chairs Chris Jung and Cody Noffsinger announced their goal of raising $700,000 for 16 partner nonprofits. Some of those partner organizations include the local branch of the American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Club, Sanctuary, Inc., Trace Industries and much more.
Jung and Noffsinger kicked-off the evening sharing what working on this year’s campaign has been like. Noffsinger says every campaign has its highs and lows, but one thing he was blown away by was the extreme acts of generosity that came from the community.
Before they announced the campaign’s grand total, the pair presented awards to those who participated in and donated to the campaign. Jung and Noffsinger started with employee participation awards which were presented to organizations where all staff members made donations to the campaign.
Employee participation awards were presented to Aaron McNeil House, the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, Christian County Emergency Management, the Christian County Literacy Council, the Dyslexia Association of the Pennyrile, Visit Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Electric System Energynet, Hopkinsville Solid Waste, the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council and Saint Luke Free Clinic.
Jung says it was incredible that organizations were able to get 100% employee participation.
To continue with the recognitions, awards were presented to organizations in the commercial, education, government, industrial and professional divisions. In each division the chair award was given to the organization that raised the most money and the spirit award was given to the organization that had the largest increase in their donation amount from last year’s campaign.
Along with the division awards Jung and Noffsinger recognized the Latham Society which was responsible for donating over $300,000 to this year’s campaign and also noted the $97,000 contribution of independent donors throughout the region.
To conclude the award ceremony the Beverly Whitfield Award and the J. William Flowers Award were presented to two individuals who have made a vital impact on this year’s campaign. The Beverly Whitfield Award was presented to Annie Bingham and the J. William Flowers Award was presented to Martha Argotte.
Now for the moment attendees have been waiting for from the start, Jung and Noffsinger announced that the United Way was able to raise $735,012 to support their 16 partner agencies across the Pennyrile region.
After the total was announced the pair kept their promise and put on a short dance routine, but before the evening concluded, United Way Board Chair, Lana Bastin thanked the community for their participation and announced that the 2024-2025 United Way Campaign Chair will be Martha Argotte.
Argotte says it was humbling to receive the J. William Flowers Award and told the community to stay tuned into the challenges she will be presenting to them for next year’s campaign.
Argotte says she has a tough act to follow after Jung and Noffsinger’s act as the Blues Brothers.
