United Way reveals needs through new campaign video

The United Way of Southeast Missouri debuted a new video highlighting area needs for its 2010-2011 fundraising campaign to local media Thursday.

Nearly 10,000 lives are affected by contributions to the United Way, according to the three-and-a-half-minute video that can be seen at www.unitedwayofsemo.org.

The video will be featured during the United Way's campaign kick-off event at 11:30 a.m. next Thursday at Cape West 14 Cine. At the time, the organization will announce its fundraising goal for this year. The United Way's 2009-2010 campaign raised a total of $1,142,858, just short of its $1.2 million goal.

The new video is designed to be shown at local businesses as part of their company's United Way fund drives, said executive director Nancy Jernigan.

Several programs funded by the United Way are shown in the video along with a series of statistics the organization compiled about local needs including:

* 4,000 local students on free or reduced lunches;

* More than 200 local children on waiting list for a mentor;

* 1 in 4 students don't complete high school;

* More than 440 area homes face foreclosure; and

* 60 percent of females in Cape County face some form of abuse.

The number of people served by United Way funded programs is also part of the video including:

* More than 23,000 meals served;

* More than 1,500 backpacks distributed;

* 1,000 senior citizens served;

* 3,000 teens served in before- and after-school programs; and

* 48 percent of students improved their GPA.

The co-chairmen for the 2010-2011 United Way Campaign, Wayne Wallingford and Kevin Greaser, appear in the video as well.

The United Way's new campaign brochure was also shared with media Thursday. It includes specific numbers of people served United Way programs in Cape Girardeau and Jackson areas.

"We wanted to try to reach out to the Jackson area in a way that is more meaningful to them and to help them understand United Way's impact," Greaser said.

In Jackson, United Way donations help more than 699 families with basic needs, 1,103 children with life skills in after-school programs and 1,1933 seniors receive nutritious meals.

In Cape Girardeau, United Way donations helped 1,947 youths, helped 20 families avoid foreclosure and helped 2,721 seniors to live independently.

"We are just as focused on the number of people not being served ad those who are served," Jernigan said. "We are working to find ways to connect more people with resources in our community."

The brochure was created by Bold Marketing, where staff also wrote the script for the United Way campaign video which was filmed and produced by KFVS12.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent Address:

430A Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO