Photo courtesy United Way
More than 200 people attended the United Way of Greater St. Joseph’s Centennial Annual meeting Thursday.
The event officially released the 2015 United Way Annual Report and included the first official United Way Board meeting of the year. The event was held Thursday afternoon at Missouri Western’s Fulkerson Center. This year’s Annual Meeting highlighted United Way’s progress over the past year and kicked off a year celebrating the 100-year anniversary emphasizing caring doesn’t grow old.
The 570-plus people who volunteered their time through United Way in 2015 were thanked. Special guests for the event included 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 were announced:2015 Spirit of Community Award (honoring one exemplary business each year for outstanding community service and support of United Way)-Altec Industries, Inc;2015 Outstanding Partner Award (honoring one area business or organization each year that has shown an exceptional history of partnership with United Way)- American Family Mutual Insurance Company; and the 2015 Outstanding Volunteer Award (honoring exemplary volunteers each year for outstanding volunteer service through United Way)-Dennis Rosonke.
Retiring United Way Board members: Mike Murphy and Dr. Robert Vartabedian.
Photo courtesy United Way
Volunteers who led United Way committees in 2015: Rita Boyer, Community Volunteer Resource Network Chair; Debra Bradley, Leadership St. Joseph Steering Committee Chair; Tom Burke, Profit In Education© Council Co-Chair; Pat Dillon, Success By 6® Partners Team Chair; Shawn Drew, Volunteer Center Advisory Committee Chair; Jason Horn, Campaign Chair; Steve Johnston, Marketing Committee Chair; Roger Martin, Funding Model Review Team Chair and Board Chair; Brad McAnally, Nominating Committee Chair; Bob Pritchett, Community Investment
Co-Chair; Dennis Rosonke, Finance Committee Chair; Tara Stoll, Video Subcommittee Chair; Seth Wright, Community Initiatives Chair; Mark Wyble, Community Investment Co-Chair; and Betty Wymore, Profit In Education©Council Co-Chair.
At the meeting, Brandt Shields and Adam Stein were elected to the United Way Board, and the following Board members were elected for a second, three-year term: Eric Bradley, George Clinton, Jason Grayson, Steve Johnston,Scott Murphy, LaVell Rucker, Michele Thomason, and Julie Woods.
2016 United Way Board officers elected at the meeting are: David Cripe, Chair; Debra Bradley, Vice Chair; Tom Burke, Secretary; and Bob Pritchett, Treasurer.