2019

2019

ANNU

AL RE

PORT

United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community

2019 Board of Directors

2019 United Way of the Ozarks Annual Report

Eric Bilyeu - Associated Wholesale Grocers, ChairMike White - SRC, SecretaryMark McNay - SMC Packaging Group, TreasurerDavid Cook - The Bank of Missouri, Campaign ChairStephanie Weis - BKD CPAs & Advisors, CI Co-ChairJoan Barrett - Ozarks Technical Community CollegeRoseann Bentley - Community VolunteerJanet Dankert - Community Partnership of the OzarksTammy Few - Missouri State UniversitySteve Fox - US BankJosh Garetson - John DeereMichael Gott - GSC Labor Council/Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 178 Kelly Hall - GSC Labor Council/Carpenters Dist. CouncilStephen Hall - Springfield Public SchoolsBill Hennessey - Mercy Health SystemsLea Henning - NextStar Broadcasting, KOZL/KOLR/Ozarksfirst.comBarbara Lucks - Organizational ConsultantDavid Pennington - City of Springfield Fire Chief Bob Roberts - Second Baptist Church Mary Ann Rojas - Workforce DevelopmentSteven Stodden - City UtilitiesKatherine Thompson - Baird Lightner Millsap, P.C.Pam Yancey - Arvest Bank

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Eric Bilyeu, Associated Wholesale Grocers

Lynne Yaggy - Cox Health, ChairJanet Akers - Branson Chamber/ CVBTammy Panter - The Bank of MissouriMelody Pettit Shuck - City of BransonSean Woods - Hollister School DistrictPamela Yancey - Arvest BankRick Ziegenfuss - City of Hollister

This past year of serving as the United Way of the Ozarks Board Chair has been extremely fulfilling. It has deepened my understanding of the needs in our community and the ways that the United Way is instrumental in addressing those needs.

Last year, we outlined how change was needed within United Way of the Ozarks for us to be able to fundraise, impact, and provide solutions for our community’s core needs. Over the past year, the board has held strategic planning meetings, hosted leaders of other successful United Ways to discuss lessons learned, and held listening sessions with groups of community leaders and donors who provided insightful information on the role they would like to see United Way of the Ozarks play in our community.

As we build upon the lessons learned over the past year, I want to thank our donors, sponsors, and volunteers for supporting us. Without your support, we could not provide the resources necessary to serve our residents in 14 counties throughout the Ozarks. I also want to thank our 22 partner agencies for the hard work they do on a daily basis and for partnering with the United Way of the Ozarks to develop and administer programs that address the critical needs of our communities.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you and our community during the past year. It has been my pleasure to work with an extremely talented Board of Directors and staff at the United Way of the Ozarks. Our work continues into 2020 as we build off of the lessons learned over the past year and forge our path forward. Thank you again for supporting the United Way of the Ozarks!

Message from the Board Chair

Tri-Lakes Advisory Board

Tri-Lakes Grant Allocations Committee

www.uwozarks.org 3

United Way of the Ozarks is going through a transition. We are reinventing ourselves. And we are doing this by asking questions of ourselves and you.

WHAT IF WE COULD...

• help people feel like “owners” of their community?• convene public and private-sector players to rally around specific, strategic initiatives to impact

our community?• use technology and data to identify the barriers to workforce development for the unemployed

and under-employed?• engage young people in our community who are disenfranchised by teaching them about our

community, giving them a seat at the table, and providing access to community leaders?• re-ignite a women’s empowerment initiative?• engage (or re-engage) our talented retiree community to build “ownership” while providing purpose

and meaning for those searching?• reengineer our community investment process . . . Should we focus more resources upstream

(toward causes) or downstream (toward symptoms)? Should we fund some new, innovativeinitiatives?

• add value throughout our 14-county service area and inspire communities by showing them thatthey can make a difference in their own backyard?

• make it easier for employers to embrace Corporate Social Responsibility by providing a menu ofeducational volunteer options for employees?

• create a first-of-its-kind loaned executive program for those who will help us do these things whilebuilding their own community ownership?

Please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times.Buckle up and hang on!

Message from President/CEO

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Greg Burris

Tri-Lakes Advisory Board

Message from the Campaign Chair David Cook, The Bank of Missouri

Challenges, Adventures and New Beginnings

In 2019, the United Way of the Ozarks faced many challenges as we sought to re-engage our donors, help to fund the adventures of our valuable partners and all the while hire and train our new employees. Although our funding did not reach our goal level of $3 million, we do believe we will reach and exceed that goal in the next campaign. We could not have accomplished what we did without your commitment to give to the annual campaign. Sometimes we wonder, “Have I really made a difference with the dollars that I have given?” and I can truly say that for the more than 205,000 individuals that we have served in our 14 counties and the 22 agencies that have provided those services to these individuals, the answer is a resounding YES.

It has been an honor to be a part of such a great group of volunteers that truly want to help others. Thank you for your support and please know you have made a difference in 2019. We could not have accomplished raising $2,510,584.00 without your commitment to give to the annual campaign.

---------------2019 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS----------------

2019 United Way of the Ozarks Annual Report4

FLOCKING...an overall fun and fairly easy fundraising effort. We started off by making a small investment in two flocks of rubber ducks, with the general idea being that you can pay to have someone’s office “flocked” with these cute little creatures. We quickly realized we did not have enough supply to meet the overwhelming demand and increased to four flocks of rubber duckies! Once someone pays to have someone flocked, we enlist a “trained technician” (a/k/a United Way Committee Member) to relocate a flock to the requested office. Once there, we leave one of the flyers that explains why the ducks are there and how to go about having them relocated. There are different levels of participa-tion, from no cost to purchasing “Flocking Insurance” that will protect you from future flockings! This was a wildly popular fundraising initiative!

- Associated Electric Cooperative

HAVING FUN WITH FUNDRAISING

1. City Utilities2. SRC 3. Associated Electric Cooperative4. John Deere Reman5. BKD, LLP6. City of Springfield7. Missouri State University8. O’Reilly Auto Parts9. CoxHealth Systems10. American National11. Springfield Public Schools12. Mercy Health Systems13. Commerce Bank14. Associated Wholesale Grocers15. SMC Packaging Group16. Great Southern Bank17. Central Bank of the Ozarks18. Assemblies of God General Council19. Arvest Bank20. TransLand, Inc.21. UPS 22. U.S. Bank23. Guaranty Bank24. The Bank of Missouri25. Ozarks Technical Community College26. Enterprise Holdings27. Liberty Utilities28. Drury University29. Jordan Valley Community Health Center30. Simmons Bank 31. Spire Energy

32. McCormick33. Ameren UE34. Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield35. KY336. Olsson Associates37. Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business

Advisors38. KOLR10/KOZL/FOX KRBK39. Missouri State Employee Charitable

Campaign40. Greene County 41. Penmac Staffing Services42. Principal Financial Group Foundation43. Cummins Central Power44. The Giving Branch Foundation for Flat

Branch Home Loans45. Community Blood Center of the Ozarks46. BNSF Foundation47. City of Hollister48. Wilhoit Properties49. Hiland Dairy50. BancorpSouth51. Merrill Steel52. Evangel University53. Community Partnership of the Ozarks54. Rick’s Automotive Inc.55. Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce56. Protel Systems & Supplies, Inc.57. Jack Henry and Associates, Inc.58. Wal Mart 59. Prime, Inc.

60. Major Brands61. United Way of the Ozarks62. Marathon Pipe Line63. Butler Rosenbury & Partners64. Professional Answering Service, Inc.65. Great Circle Springfield66. FedEx 67. Springfield First Community Bank68. Target 69. Ingram Enterprises, Inc.70. AT&T Missouri71. KPM CPAs & Advisors72. Springfield Labor Council AFL-CIO73. Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc.74. Husch Blackwell, LLP75. Missouri Employers Mutual76. Ozarks Regional YMCA77. Shelter Insurance Claims Office78. Harmony House79. Anderson Engineering80. Springfield-Greene County Library81. 3M Company82. The Victim Center83. Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland84. United HealthCare85. OACAC86. Peck’s Insurance & Financial Services87. DeWitt & Associates88. UMB Bank89. Habitat for Humanity of Springfield90. Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling

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Page 691. Timken92. Community Foundation of the Ozarks93. Jarden Plastic Solutions94. Dillard’s95. Summit Utilities96. Multipli Credit Union97. General Electric98. Paul Mueller Company99. F & H Food Equipment Company100. John & Culah Nixon Foundation101. Don Wessel Honda102. Hollister R-V School District103. Springfield News-Leader/Gannett104. Betty and Bobby Allison Ozarks105. The Kitchen, Inc./Rare Breed106. Ozarks Food Harvest107. Ball Jones Charitable Fund108. Boy Scouts of America109. Bass Pro Shops110. Lutheran Family & Children’s Services111. Wood & Huston Bank112. Presto X Company113. Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #178114. Johnson Controls, Inc.115. Chase116. Wells Fargo117. CenturyLink118. AAA Automobile Club of Missouri119. City of Branson120. Wooten Company, LLC121. Sunbelt Environmental Services122. IBM Retirees123. Abilities First124. Corwin Dodge125. Erlen Group126. Second Baptist Church127. Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of

Commerce128. HAS Properties129. City of Republic130. CNH Reman131. Western Extralite, Div. of Border States

132. Bank of Kansas City133. Regions Bank134. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks135. American Red Cross136. Best Buy Superstore #52137. Springfield Building & Construction

Trades Council AFL-CIO138. Oakstar Bank139. Grinnell Mutual140. Tel Staffing & HR141. St. Louis Contact Center142. Corwin Ford143. Esterly, Schneider & Associates, Inc.144. Murney Associates145. Springfield Engineering Company146. United Steel Workers of America,

Local Union #15485 147. United Steel Workers of America,

Local Union #662148. Integrity Home Care149. USAA, Community Affairs150. Citizens Memorial Hospital151. Cigna152. EFH Corporate Services153. DB Design154. Galanes Family Foundation155. Ozarks Literacy Council156. Julia A Hood Fund157. HDR Engineering, Inc.158. The Salvation Army Springfield, MO Corps159. C & S Wholesale Grocers160. R. N. Smith Company161. Leggett & Platt162. Larry Blumberg & Associates163. Edward J. Rice Company164. American Postal Workers Union

Local #888165. Communication Workers Local #6312166. SMART- UTU LOCAL #303, AFL-CIO167. Barker Phillips Jackson Insurance &

other Financial Services168. Republic Ford

169. Manpower, Inc.170. Aetna171. International Association of Fire

Fighters, Local #152172. Lowes 173. Ricoh174. Stryker Medical175. JC Penney Stores176. General Motors Corporation177. Hershey Food Corporation178. Express Scripts179. Ford Motor180. USConnect181. Golden Corral182. Safety Equipment Company183. R.B. Murray Company184. Macy’s #18185. Black & Veatch186. The Phoenix Companies, Inc.187. Council of Churches of the Ozarks188. Walgreens Drug Stores189. Oxford Healthcare190. Sirius Computer Solutions191. Bull’s Trophy House192. Springfield Pump and Supply Company193. BluCurrent194. T-Mobile195. Petsmart196. NAMI Southwest Missouri197. Roehl Transport198. Experity199. Berry Tractor & Equipment Company200. Purina Animal Nutrition, LLC201. Principal Financial Group202. IBM Corporation203. Liberty Diversified International204. Safelite Glass Company205. TD Ameritrade206. Price, Waterhouse, Coopers LLP207. Andersen Corporation208. Central Bank of Boone Co

2019 United Way of the Ozarks Annual Report66

“As a daughter of an educator and a nurse, giving back was always in my DNA. As I met my husband and joined John Deere, I realized what a significant impact the United Way can have and the power it brings to a community by overcoming significant challenges. In an effort to maximize our personal impact, Jeff and I committed to contributing both with our time and our dollars. As a Tocqueville Society member in Iowa, we had an opportunity to see the impact of our investments

in the community and start to create what Alexis de Tocqueville called a lasting change. Becoming a member of the Springfield

community, I have felt so welcome and I hope to create this same sense of impact and lasting change in our new home.”-Jena Holtberg-Benge, General Manager John Deere Reman

“United Way and the Tocqueville Society were my introduction 15 years ago to Denver CO, both in terms of giving back and engaging with business leaders eager to make a difference in the Mile High city.

Rather than just seeing United Way as a fundraising conduit, I saw the power of engaged stakeholders owning the issues of their community and building relationships to tackle challenges. We led a united effort

to make a community stronger through our support. The United Way of the Ozarks has that same potential.”

-Travis Webb, National Director of Assurance Services at BKD CPAs & Advisors

“Creating transformational change in communities has been a hallmark of United Way since its inception. As our present-day

society becomes filled with ever greater life challenges for families and individuals, United Way’s role becomes increasingly important.

Helping people gain stability in their life and then helping create self-sufficiency is why Mary and I have supported United Way and it’s member agencies our entire adult lives. We are proud of what

United Way means to the Ozarks.”-Mark Walker, Chairman & CEO Transland

WHY UNITED WAY?

www.uwozarks.org 7

Special Thanks to our Host: Springfield Cardinals

Breakfast partners:

Platinum Paintbrush Sponsors:

Gold Hammer Sponsor:

Silver Shovel Sponsors:KPM CPAs and Advisors T-Mobile Wyndham Destinations SMC Packaging Group

www.uwozarks.org

“I am humbled to work with so many dedicated people that continue to make our community a

better place to live. I look forward to a continued bright and exciting future for United Way.”

-Cindy Norman, CI Co-Chair

We ask donor/members to participate in this allocation process by reviewing partner agency Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and rating

them based on program outcomes and presentations. Allocation amounts are then based upon community investment

volunteers’ Findings and Recommendations, which are presented to and approved by our Board of Directors.

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY INVESTMENTINVESTMENT

“I am honored to be part of the Community Investment process at United Way of the Ozarks. I am so humbled by

the generosity of our donors, the diligence our committee exhibits in making sure those dollars are allocated consistent with UWO priorities, and by the

trememdous efforts by our partner agencies to improve our community.” -Stephanie Weis, CI Co-Chair

Priority Partner

Tha

nk yo

u to o

ur Pa

rtner

Agen

cies

Education Council

Focuses on Children at Risk and Literacy & Mentoring

Successful Youth Council

Focuses on Removing Barriersand Youth Services

Income, Health and Safety Council

Focuses on Emergency Servicesand Basic Needs for Families