United Way of Western Nebraska surpassed their 2022-2023 campaign goal of $400,000 by raising $401,020. Campaign Co-Chairs Ally Berggren (Regional West Health Systems), Shane Wilson (Scottsbluff Screen Print) and Dr. Derek Shafer (Box Butte General Hospital) were key to exceeding the goal this year. Loaned Executives also assisted in campaign presentations and actively assisted in raising funds for United Way. Funds are raised annually through individual donations, corporate donations and United Way special events. $219,951 was raised by United Way’s 37 Pacesetter Partner Business and over $80,500 through special events.
United Way Executive Director Karen Benzel highlighted how important the community is in raising funds for United Way. Benzel noted, “Every dollar donated to United Way makes an impact in the community and we are thankful for all our donors. Whether they participated in a workplace campaign, mailed a check to our office, donated online or bought a duck, every dollar counts. We are currently supporting 27 nonprofit organizations in Western Nebraska and through our successful fundraising campaign we are able to continue to invest in the community and our partner nonprofit agencies.”
Funds raised are used to support United Way community impact initiatives and local non-profits partner agencies in the eleven Western Nebraska Panhandle counties plus Goshen and Platte County in Wyoming that are actively focused on health, education or financial stability. United Way tracks the dollars raised in each county to ensure that donor dollars remain local and impactful in the communities where they are given. United Way funding is open to non-profits that focus on financial stability, education and better health in United Way of Western Nebraska’s service area. Local non-profit agencies like CAPstone Child Advocacy Center, East Point Horspice, Buck Therapeutic Riding Academy, Camp Scott, The Doves Program, Community Table and the Scottsbluff/Gering Soup Kitchen rely on United Way for support. Current community impact initiatives include Fighting Hunger in Our Communities, AmeriCorps Seniors, Community Cares Food Box Program, Stuff the Bus, and Imagination Library.