The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Carthage, Jasper County

Discussion

November 29, 2009

Jo Ellis: United Way hits 58 percent of goal

CARTHAGE, Mo. — With a little more than two months remaining in the campaign, Carthage United Way has reached about 58 percent of its goal, said director Jenny Mansfield.

She said the United Way board, taking into account the economy, set the campaign goal at $310,000, the same as last year. This year, however, the money will have to cover a couple of new agencies.

“We didn’t cut anybody out, but the allocations have been cut back some,” Mansfield said. “We’ll have less to work with and more to fund.”

The 17 agencies receiving help from Carthage United Way are the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Special Olympics of Southwest Missouri, Salvation Army, Cerebral Palsy Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Carthage Crisis Center, Carthage Crosslines, Family Literacy Center, Camp Quality, Citizens Advisory Board (for at-risk youth on probation), Jasper County 4-H, Community Clinic of Carthage, ACHE (an associated dental clinic), Children’s Mercy Center of Kansas City and Lafayette House.

While some of these agencies are not located in Carthage, Mansfield said the board members and volunteer citizens who review the agencies each year make certain that they do serve Carthage residents and are not competing with each other.

The common focus of United Way groups across the nation is education, income and health, she said, and each goal serves the next.

“Someone who finishes high school has a better education; a better education helps to assure a better income, and a better income helps provide better health,” Mansfield said.

Lora Phelps, with United Missouri Bank’s trust department, and Wayne Wilson, with Southwest Missouri Bank’s loan department, are co-chairing this year’s campaign. They have been working with corporations and companies that periodically sponsor events to help employees bring in a good contribution — events such as barbecues, silent auctions, “pay-to-wear-jeans Fridays,” or this year’s challenge between the Carthage and Webb City Arvest banks as to who could raise the most money.

Small business companies (25 employees or less) are being encouraged to participate through a different kind of challenge. GateHouse Media Inc., owner of the Carthage Press, has contributed $500 for a drawing to be held among small businesses that achieve 100 percent employee participation.

Noting recent layoffs and the slower economy, Mansfield said not as many people are pledging as normal, “but those who are, are pledging more.” She said contributions may be pledged monthly, quarterly or semiannually.

“We try to make it as painless as possible,” she said.

Donors may choose an agency they want their money to support. By checking every pledge card or check, “I make sure everyone’s request is honored,” she said.

Mansfield and her administrative assistant, Janet Staggs, are part-time employees for United Way, working out of a donated, shared office at 616 W. Central Ave. They also share the utilities, insurance and upkeep of the office to keep administrative costs low. Staggs has been with the agency nine years.

“I call her my boss,” said Mansfield who began her job in August 2008, after losing her husband two years prior. “I enjoy the public relations part. It’s kept me feeling needed too.”

The United Way campaign continues through March. Most pledges will be in by Feb. 4, the date of the final report and awards banquet. Mansfield ’s pledge as administrator is this: “Every donor will get his dollar’s worth as long as I am there. I’m going to squeeze as much money out of that dollar as I can.”

She is sure that all $310,000 will be there because Carthage companies, schools and residents “are good givers and understand what United Way does.”

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Carthage, Jasper County
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