A name changes, but commitments stay the same

The Area Wide United Way celebrated its legacy of 50 years of charitable fund raising Friday by changing its name to United Way of Southeast Missouri.

Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the group, told a crowd of over 100 United Way volunteers and past volunteers at a luncheon at the Drury Lodge that the new name better reflects the area United Way's impact and involvement in the region.

"Most United Ways do define their community in their name," Jernigan said after the luncheon where three "spirit" awards were handed out.

John Mehner, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president and United Way board member, received the Spirit of Giving Award for his work with the fund-raising group during the past 12 years.

Southeast Missouri Hospital received the Spirit of Community Award for the efforts of its employees in raising money for United Way. The hospital was the third-largest contributor, behind the Procter & Gamble plant in Cape Girardeau County and St. Francis Medical Center. Southeast Missouri Hospital employees raised over $55,000 for the 2003 campaign.

The Salvation Army, a United Way agency, received the Spirit of Caring Award for its work to help the needy. The Salvation Army was one of the original agencies supported by the United Way in its inaugural campaign in 1954. Today, the Salvation Army is one of 27 agencies and five programs that receive funding from the United Way.

The name change is the fourth in the history of the organization, which expanded over the years from a strictly Cape Girardeau city entity to include Jackson and all of Cape Girardeau County as well as Scott City.

While the name is changing, Jernigan said the organization still plans to focus on raising money and tackling community problems throughout Cape Girardeau County and Scott City. The United Way also has helped fund a community task force in Perry County, but has no immediate expansion plans, Jernigan said.

Many of the agencies it helps fund, like the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, provide help to needy residents throughout the region, United Way officials said.

Steve Bjelich, president of the United Way board of directors and chief operating officer of St. Francis Medical Center, told the crowd that the civic group has a history of "giving back to the community."

The local Untied Way has raised over $14 million in half a century. Most of that -- $11.5 million -- was funneled to 52 different agencies and programs. The rest went to pay operating expenses for United Way as well as provide some one-time grants for community projects, Jernigan said.

United Way officials previously have announced plans to tackle public transportation, affordable medical care, family issues and drug and alcohol abuse in an effort to improve life for area residents.

Jernigan said United Way committees, helped by the Community Caring Council, are looking at those issues. The United Way hopes to have a plan of action in place within the next 30 to 60 days, she said at the luncheon.

"I think the bottom line is helping people," said Don Rugraff, a former United Way board president who now lives in St. Louis and made the trip to Cape Girardeau to attend the luncheon.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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