United Way Sets $320,000 Campaign Goal

(REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED WAY BOARD AND OF LEAD PACESETTER COMPANY MIDLAND STATES BANK PRESENT FOR THE ANNUAL KICKOFF LUNCHEON WERE--FRONT ROW: COURTNEY BELL, MONICA SCHUMACHER, CHELSEY KOESTER, EVELYN BIBLE, LORA BERGFELD; SECOND ROW: AARON MYERS, UNITED WAY BOARD PRESIDENT MARTY WATSON, MEL STOCK, AND UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN JAMES SCHULTZ)

United Way of Effingham County has set a $320,000 goal for the 2019 campaign.

The goal was announced at a kickoff luncheon held over the noon hour Tuesday. 22 agencies will benefit from the funds raised in this year's campaign.

Local resident James Schultz has been chosen as this year's campaign chair. Schultz said the variety of agencies benefitting from the campaign is a key, along with the level of need. He noted that one in three people in Effingham County benefit from the services provided by at least one of the 22 agencies receiving United Way dollars. Our Greg Sapp spoke with Schultz about this year's campaign...

United Way Board Chair Marty Watson is proud of the way Effingham County supports the campaign. Watson said he speaks on behalf of United Way throughout Illinois and Missouri and said those who hear him speak are aware of his pride in the county for the work done to support the campaign.

Midland States Bank has been selected as the Lead Pacesetter company for this year's campaign, and Mel Stock and Monica Schumacher from the bank spoke on behalf of the bank and their plans to raise funds. Schumacher said fundraising initiatives will range from a Kiss a Pig competition to paying to have someone start their vehicle on a cold day.

Schultz said the goal is to have all fundraising efforts wrapped up this year by mid-December.

The agencies to be benefitted from this year's United Way campaign are Altamont After School Program; Andrew Gobczynski Bigt Heart Foundation; Big Brothers Big Sisters (Mid Illinois); Boy Scouts-Lincoln Trails Council; Catholic Charities; CEFS Literacy Program; CEFS Retired Senior Volunteer Program; Child Advocacy Center of East Central Illinois; Effingham Child Development Center; Effingham County Fellowship of Christian Athletes-Greater Effingham Area; FISH Human Services; Effingham County Search and Rescue; Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois; Heartland Human Services; Meals on Wheels of CEFS; One Hope United; Oneighty; SAFE (Sexual Assault and Family Emergencies); Senior Services of Effingham County; STAR (Strategic Training and Restoration); SWAN (Stopping Woman Abuse Now); and Unit 40 Mentoring Program.

You can learn more about United Way and about this year's campaign by phoning the United Way office at 217-342-3824.