The United Way of Greater St. Joseph will kick off 100 years in St. Joseph with is annual meeting Thursday.

Around 200 people are expected to attend Thursday’s Centennial Annual Meeting at Missouri Western Fulkerson Center. The program will begin at 12:15 p.m. after a buffet lunch and will conclude at 1 p.m.

This event will officially release the 2015 United Way Annual Report and will include the first United Way Board meeting of United Way’s 100th year in St. Joseph, recognizing retiring Board members and electing new Board members and officers.

This year’s Annual Meeting will highlight United Way’s progress over the past year and will kick off a year celebrating the 100-year anniversary emphasizing caring doesn’t grow old. The 570 people who volunteered their time through United Way in 2015 will be thanked. Special guests for the event will be 20 Lafayette High School freshmen and Colgan Center students participating in United Way BEST (Business and Education Succeed Together), a program of United Way Profit In Education©.

Special award winners will be announced: Spirit of Community Award (honoring one exemplary business each year for outstanding community service and support of United Way); Outstanding Partner Award (honoring one area business or organization each year that has shown an exceptional history of partnership with United Way); and the Outstanding Volunteer Award (honoring exemplary volunteers each year for outstanding volunteer service through United Way).