By Wally Kennedy

wkennedy@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — The new director of the Carthage Area United Way is a familiar face in Carthage.

Jenny Mansfield, 58, a lifelong resident of Carthage, has been appointed to the post. She took over on Monday, Aug. 4.

“I am excited and anxious, and have hit the ground running,” she said. “We’ll kick off our fund-raising campaign on Sept. 11.”

In preparation for the kick-off of the campaign, Mansfield said she is learning as much as she can about the organization and the approximately 20 agencies that receive assistance from the United Way.

“There are several agencies in Carthage we support, including the Red Cross, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts,” she said. “The United Way is a good cause, and Carthage has always been great to support good causes.

“As the new director, I think I have an advantage in that I know the people and they know I am from Carthage,” she said. “I think I know what works in Carthage.”

Mansfield applied for the job a few months ago. She came in second after Kristina Patton, but Patton was only on the job for months before she received word that she had been accepted into the Air Force.

The goal of this year’s fund-raising campaign is approximately $350,000. Nate Dally will be the chairman of this year’s campaign.

“Over the last few years, we have made the goal and surpassed it. We want to do that again this year,” she said.

A graduate of Carthage High School, Mansfield has done fund-raising work for various political candidates. She also has experience in sales and legal work.

She recently served on the board of directors of the Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri and has participated in civic activities at Carthage.

“I wanted to do something to help, and I was thrilled when they called me and offered me the opportunity,” she said.