The United Way of the Pennyrile and participating organizations came together on Tuesday to celebrate another successful donation campaign and to honor those who played an integral role in making it happen.
Last year, Campaign Chair Martha Steil announced her goal of raising $700,000 for 18 regional nonprofits, which include Aaron McNeil House, the Christian County Rescue Team and the Pennyroyal Children’s Advocacy Center.
Steil was beyond excited to share the grand total and after a few drum rolls and much anticipation, she announced that the community raised just over $704,000.
Before the total was announced, Steil and United Way of the Pennyrile Executive Director Melanie Noffsinger talked about the campaign and presented awards to the donors who made the campaign a success.
Noffsinger has been serving as executive director of the nonprofit since November 2024. She highlighted some of this year’s partner agencies, sharing that they support youth education, provide health services, combat food insecurity and much more.
After taking the role of campaign chair, Steil was tasked with developing a campaign theme. She says mantras about shining a light kept coming to her, and she eventually landed on the theme, “Shine Like the Stars.”
Many awards were given, including the Beverly Whitfield and the J. William Flowers Awards. The Beverly Whitfield Award recognizes an individual’s dedication to a United Way partner agency.
Aaron McNeil House Director Kurt Anderson presented the award to Donna Williams, director of Breaking Bread Community Dinner Church. Breaking Bread is run through Aaron McNeil House and provides free weekly meals.
The J. William Flowers Award recognizes an individual for their outstanding service to the United Way. Steil was last year’s award recipient and she presented this year’s award to Betsy Bond the United Way’s former director who retired in November.
To conclude the evening, Abigail Landrum and Bri Smith were named the campaign chairs for the 2025-2026 United Way campaign. Landrum says she is excited yet nervous and knows they have some big shoes to fill. Smith says she loves giving back to the community and thought that being a campaign chair would be a great way to do just that.
The rest of the awards given at the celebration include:
100% Employee Participation Awards: Aaron McNeil House, Armed Services YMCA, Christian County Chamber of Commerce, Christian County Emergency Management, Christian County Literacy Council, Dyslexia Association, Pennyrile Children’s Advocacy Center, Salvation Army, SWK EDC, Trace Industries and Visit Hopkinsville.
Within each campaign division a Spirit Award was given to the organization with the largest donation increase and the Chairman’s Award was given to the organization that donated the most within the division.
Commercial Division
Spirit Award: Walmart Distribution Center
Chairman’s Award: H&R Agri-Power
Education Division
Spirit Award: Cumberland Hall
Chairman’s Award: Hopkinsville Community College
Industrial Division
Spirit Award: Hopkinsville Electric System
Chairman’s Award: Pennyrile Electric
Government Division
Spirit Award: Hopkinsville Police Department
Chairman’s Award: Hopkinsville Fire Department
Professional Division
Spirit Award: Kem Wealth Management
Chairman’s Award: Jennie Stuart Medical Center
People Helping People Award
Small Division: Fortera Credit Union
Medium Division: Hopkinsville Electric System
Large Division: H&R Agri-Power
Overall Award: City of Hopkinsville
Regional Impact Awards
Todd County Impact Award: Pennyrile Electric
Trigg County Impact Award: Bank of Cadiz
