United Way of Western Nebraska says it raised just over $472,000 in its 2021-2 fundraising campaign, including more than $94,000 in Dawes and Box Butte Counties. The money raised in Dawes and Box Butte will be used there.
Outgoing Executive Director Steph Black says the $320,000 goal for the rest of the Panhandle was topped by nearly $68,000 thanks to an anonymous $61,000 donation and almost $134,000 from the Pacesetter partner businesses.
New United Way Executive Director Karen Benzel of Alliance says major fundraisers will be back this summer including the DISCover United Way Disc Golf Tournament in Box Butte County
Also returning – hopefully with no COVID restrictions – are the full in-person Color Dash in June and the Duck Draw in September.
United Way serves as an umbrella fundraiser for nearly 2 dozen non-profits in the Panhandle, but also coordinates many community-impact projects such as Stuff the Bus and Fighting Hunger in Our Communities.
Fighting Hunger provided close to $21,000 worth of assistance in the past year to 300 families across the region.