Linda Burns has been named the 2014 United Way Leadership St. Joseph Distinguished Leader.

During the 2014 United Way Leadership graduation Thursday Burns, a 2000 program class alumna was recognized as the 2014 United Way Leadership St. Joseph Distinguished Leader. The Distinguished Leader Award is given at the conclusion of each United Way Leadership St. Joseph year to an alumni of the program who has gone on to use his/her leadership training as a volunteer for the betterment of our community in an especially beneficial way.

Burns, Director of Community Engagement for United Way of Greater St. Joseph, was selected to receive this honor in recognition of the community leadership she exemplifies. The award committee chose to recognize Linda this year for her role in shaping hundreds of community leaders through her oversight of United Way Leadership St. Joseph for the last 14 years. Under her leadership, the program has evolved into a year-long class, filling capacity regularly. Her efforts have given United Way Leadership St. Joseph a solid foundation and direction for the future. She has also managed United Way Volunteer Center that connects the community through volunteerism since its establishment in 2009. The most notable project has been the creation of United Way STUFF THE BUS! which has collected tens of thousands of school supplies for local children and has introduced hundreds of individuals and families to the joy of volunteering.

United Way Leadership St. Joseph builds the skills of individuals to be effective leaders in the community. The 2014 graduates join 31 preceding years of participants, more than 700 graduates over the years, who have completed year-long leadership development training. The program helps create a network of trained individuals willing to engage in leadership and community service with enhanced knowledge of our community’s opportunities, realities, and challenges.

2014 United Way Leadership St. Joseph graduates are: Michael Belding, Ally Browning, Kelsey Echterling, Brent Eddington, Josh Emberton, Bill Gall, Christy George, Jessica Gould, Tyler Graff, Jessica Hagey, Sarah Hatten, Nici Hayes, Ryan Hook, Nathan Howell, Scott Hudson, Mike Hurst, Amy Kotwani, Melissa Lawyer, Bryan LeRette, Matt Mays, Jeff McCoy, Rich Mense, Gayle Stowers, Doug Tschauder, John Voss, Connie Werner, Andy Windhorst, and Justin Wright.
Sponsoring businesses and organizations that supported individual class members for the year were: American Family Insurance; Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica; City of St. Joseph; CliftonLarsonAllen LLP; Commerce Bank; Green Acres Redevelopment; Hillyard Companies; Johnson Controls; Junior League; KCP&L; Legal Aid of Western Missouri; Liechti, Franken & Young, LLC; Missouri Western State University; Mosaic Life Care; Northwest Health Services; Polsinelli P.C.; Progressive Community Services; St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity; St. Joseph PTA Council; St. Joseph Public Library; St. Joseph Regional Association of Realtors; Second Harvest Community Food Bank; and United Way of Greater St. Joseph.

At the event, Linda Burns, alumna of the 2000 program class, was