By JIM PERRY, Publisher
Gainesville Daily Register
Gainesville —
We are now into the final weeks of the 2013 Cooke County United Way campaign and this year’s goal of $398,000 is in sight. CCUW has been around for 57 years and has always met its annual funding goal, according to executive director Angie Hare.
This is a local agency serving local needs, she explained. As a local, independent United Way agency, our organization can respond to the needs of our community. Money donated here stays here.
Volunteers have worked hard and have hosted and/or participated in several new events to boost awareness for this campaign. Kudos to those who made these new events possible.
For example, the Gainesville chamber after hours mixer hosted by North Texas Medical Center, the Muenster chamber event hosted by Cooke County Electric Coop and the Valley View Chamber event were all well attended by the United Way agencies and chamber members.
Last week, we reported on the new Power of the Purse event which was deemed a huge success by everyone involved. We had a Gainesville Blitz, a Muenster Blitz and on Thursday there is a blitz planned in Valley View.
Agency fairs have also been very visible during the campaign. A recent agency event at Weber was well represented by the CCUW agencies and Weber employees raised $209,000 for this year’s campaign.
Another agency fair is scheduled at NTMC on Wednesday. Earlier this month the second annual Healthy, Happy and Whole Expo was held at the Gainesville Civic Center with proceeds going to our United Way.
Other upcoming local events include “Donut holes for United Way” from Oct. 18 through 27 by Mom’s Donuts on Grand Avenue. Every bag of donut holes purchased generates a contribution to CCUW. Mom’s is also sponsoring a coloring contest and the entry blank is on page 8A of today’s edition.
You’re donating to United Way just by bringing your child’s coloring effort to Mom’s Donuts.
Dry Clean Super Center on California Avenue has United Way change collection jars at the cash registers – Super Dave will match all funds raised. NTMC is sponsoring a gift basket raffle on Oct.17.
With strong ties throughout the county, especially in Muenster, what is now the Cooke County United Way began in the 1940’s as the Community Chest. J.M. Weinszapfel, a Muenster business owner, wanted to build an organization where citizens could have some sort of a cooperative, providing help for the common good. He was successful.
In 1955 the Community Chest became the Cooke County United Fund until 1985 when it reformed as the Cooke County United Way. Fund-raising records show the goal in 1976 to be a whopping $75,000.
In 1987 the goal climbed to $147,500. In 1996 the goal surpassed a quarter of a million dollars at $260,000 and it keep growing every year.
Someone you know is served by, or works with, or volunteers for one or more of the certified agencies affiliated with our local United Way.
The 2013 Cooke County United Way agencies are as follows: Abigail's Arms Family Crisis Center, American Red Cross/Texoma Chapter, Boy Scouts/Longhorn Council, Boys & Girls Club of Cooke County, Boys Baseball of Cooke County, CASA of North Texas, Cooke County Youth Fair, Girl Scouts/Texas Oklahoma Plains, Hospice of Cooke County, Meals on Wheels/Tri County Nutrition Program, Muenster Youth Council, North Texas Youth Connection, Reading & Radio Resource of North Texas, PRIDE Prevention Center (formerly known as Substance Abuse Council), SW Diabetic Foundation/Camp Sweeney, Texoma Area Paratransit/TAPS, Texoma Sr. Citizens Area Agency on Aging and VISTO.
As you can see, our community finds success by working together. I hope you will find a way to donate to our local United Way efforts during the final weeks of the campaign.
