Category: Staff

by Dalton Black, executive director

The start of a new year at United Way means it’s time to start building our budget. We put pen to paper to evaluate our programs and fundraising efforts to see how best we can invest in Harvey County. What we decide is based upon results from our annual fundraising campaign, current commitments, and investment goals for the year. 

Unfortunately, we did not meet our Annual Campaign fundraising goal in 2022. There are several factors in this but one of the biggest is that we’ve had some of our locally owned businesses bought by larger companies that have different philanthropic priorities and strategies. We had a shortfall of $40,000 at the end of our campaign despite our best efforts to gain new philanthropic partners. 

What does not hitting our goal mean? Well, it means we have to take a hard look at how we spend money this coming year. Our Community Investment grants will not be as large. We won’t be able to fund as many special project requests. We won’t be able to start any new Community Impact projects. At United Way, we pride ourselves on our ability to stretch $1, and we strive to do so every year when we develop our budget, but there is only so much stretching we can do before we have to make adjustments.

We’re proud of what we accomplished in 2022. For a refresher on our investments last year, you can read our Year in Review here. We will continue to be proud of our work in 2023, even if it looks a bit different than in past years. 

Staff, board members and I will continue to find solutions in our community, and we will continue to try to find financial support for those solutions. I encourage you to donate if you haven’t already. Become a first time donor or a donor again. Maybe your company used to do a workplace campaign but haven’t been able to restart these efforts since COVID. We need you and our business community to step up to continue making progress in Harvey County. Change doesn’t happen alone. 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Harvey County United Way for our 2022 Annual Campaign. We couldn’t do what we do without you. 

Gretchen Loganbill, Harvey County United Way board member

By Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator

Question: Where did you grow up and what was your family life like?

Answer: I grew up in a small town south of Omaha – Plattsmouth, Nebraska. YES, I am a husker fan! Go BIG RED! My family was and still is very close. I have an older brother; he and his wife reside in Arizona.  I have a younger sister who now resides in Newton! My husband is from Moundridge so when I picked up and moved here and had children, my parents uprooted to be close to grandchildren and my sister moved from Omaha a few months ago to be closer to her nieces and nephews! So, to say we are all very close still is a true statement!

Question: Who has been your strongest influence in life?

Answer: My strongest influences have been my kids. They have encouraged me to re-prioritize things. They have taught me to slow down and take each day as a blessing. They bring out characteristics that have been lost during the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Question: What led you to your career? 

Answer: I started out as a teller in my hometown at a small family-owned bank during my summers in college. I enjoyed my customers and the relationships I built during that time. I have continued to develop my relationships, just in different roles as a branch manager at Heartland Credit Union

Question: How would friends and acquaintances describe you? 

Answer: My friends and acquaintances would describe me as caring, people person and trustworthy. My husband would say I am a busy body, and it drives him nuts!

Question: With so many volunteer opportunities in the community, why did you choose to be involved with Harvey County United Way?

Answer: I wanted to volunteer with Harvey County United Way because I wanted to dive deep into the community and really make an impact to all different avenues of Harvey County.

Question: What’s the one thing you want people to know about HCUW?

Answer: One thing I would want people to know about HCUW would be that the people on the Board or volunteers or staff really care! They want to help, and it’s one of their passions. I have been on different boards through my time and HCUW really dives deep every meeting to meet the needs of our community and how it can be better!

by Dalton Black, executive director

What an incredible year it has been! I can’t believe we are nearing the ending of 2022. My staff, board of directors and I have been busy this year as we’ve navigated uncertainty around COVID-19, growth in our organization, and the increase of hardships facing our community. Despite all that, I’ve been incredibly pleased with what all we’ve been able to accomplish. I wanted to take a moment to recall all of these milestones because it’s easy, even for me, to forget to celebrate our wins.

Operations:

We wrapped up our 2021 annual campaign in January by raising $333,000 here in Harvey County. This has been the most fruitful campaign we’ve had since I arrived in September 2020. All of the other accomplishments from this year have been made possible by the dedication of our community members and donors, and the success of our 2021 annual campaign. 

After our successful campaign, we hired our fabulous development coordinator, Sheila Kelley, as a permanent member of staff. It didn’t take long to realize our office at 103 E. Broadway was just too small to accommodate two staff members. In February, Sheila and I packed up and moved Harvey County United Way to 500 N. Main, Ste. 206. We love it here!

With Sheila came some new, great ideas to engage in our community. We launched The United Way blog in February and have been providing long-form content for our community to learn more about issues facing our neighbors, the programs intended to provide aid, and even some behind the scenes information about United Way. We also started a new outreach and fundraising effort called Dining for Donations which allows area restaurants to donate a certain portion of their sales from a day to Harvey County United Way. We’ve enjoyed our days sitting at the restaurants welcoming guests and meeting more of our community members.

Lastly, this fall we were able to hire a part-time Digital Marketing Intern through the CTE program at Newton High School. Zack Dauer has been a great asset to our team and has kept our social media pages running smoothly. We are thankful for his help this semester, and wish him all the best on his next adventure!

Community Investment:

One of the essential parts of business for us is our Community Investment grants. Funds for these grants come from the money raised during our annual campaign and are part of our promise to ensure that money raised in Harvey County stays in Harvey County. This year, we were able to grant over $170,000 to 20 local non-profits, the highest amount since pre-pandemic. These organizations are working tirelessly to meet the needs of our community in the areas of health, education, and financial stability. We thank them for their partnership!

Community Impact:

This is one of the areas we’ve been growing in the past few years, and I’m excited at all the things we were able to do for Harvey County in our community impact efforts. First, we made a huge effort to address early literacy in our community. We hosted our annual KidFEST event in April and passed out free books to more than 360 children across the county. Additionally, we spent all summer pushing out messages about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and saw an incredible increase in children signing up for the program. 

Next, we focused on our teachers and how we could support them as they geared up for a new school year. We were able to distribute mini-grants to more than 300 educators across all five school districts in Harvey County. Each grant allowed educators to purchase supplies they needed for their classrooms. This was our second year of the Tools for Schools program and I’m excited to see how we can continue to grow support for our teachers who are so essential to our children’s success. 

This year, we decided to rethink how we invest a pool of funds back into our community. Our Community Impact Giving program allows us to look at projects or programs as they arise, determine how best for us to be involved, and work alongside our partners to bring these projects to life. Some of our notable contributions from community impact have:

• helped start a food and clothing closet for students,
• helped provide WiFi hotspots so all individuals have access to the internet,
• provided transportation services for individuals so they could participate in financial literacy courses,
• brought a financial literacy program to high school students,
• and provided basic necessities to victims of a Newton apartment fire.

Lastly, we have received more and more calls and emails this year of families in our community needing assistance with rent and/or utilities. It became apparent that, although there are places for them to get help, there weren’t enough options or money to keep people safe in their homes. We have worked hard this year to help in this area, and we are excited to have received a grant that will make it possible. Beginning in 2023, we will launch the Helping Hands Fund which will provide support to individuals struggling with rent and utility payments. Since we know the need is great, we will ask each requestor a series of questions to determine the amount of support we are able to provide. This will ensure we are assisting the largest number of families in our community,  and those who have exhausted all other options. I’m really looking forward to being able to provide this extra help in Harvey County.

What’s next?

You’ve read this far so you’re probably wondering what we have planned for the next year. We are nearing the end of our 2022 Annual Campaign, and what we do in 2023 is dependent on the funds we are able to raise. There have been major changes to some of our largest employers this year, and unfortunately, that has changed some of the philanthropic support we’ve been receiving. My team and I are working hard to fundraise so that we can continue all the things we’ve done in 2022, and bring new projects to the county this year. 

We’ve sat in a number of meetings where we’ve discussed the challenges in Harvey County. From transportation to child care, we are examining these issues and brainstorming ways to make life better for our community. The truth is, we won’t be able to do that without support from people like you. Community members who are willing to step up and donate are the ones who are making possible these initiatives that will address the issues facing our county. We need you more than ever so we can be more than an organization with “big dreams.” We want to make those dreams a reality. We want to create a healthy, happy and thriving community for all of us to live in.

We hope you’ll join us today, and thank you for all you’ve done to support us so far. You are what makes Harvey County great. 

By Sheila G. Kelley, Development Coordinator

Zack Dauer came to Harvey County United Way mid-September as an intern through the Newton High School Ag Academy program. Zack has been handling most of our social media outlets. He will be completing his internship next week and we wish him well and thank him for all he’s contributed to HCUW. I asked him some fun questions for this interview and they are as follows:

Question: What do you want to be when you grow up?

I’m not sure. When I started high school, my plan was to join the Marine Corps as an infantryman for a few years before using my GI bill to go to college for engineering. But I’m not sure I want to be an engineer now and there isn’t much need for infantrymen nowadays.

Question: If you could talk to someone from the past, who would it be and why?

There are a lot of good people that I could talk to. Fredrick Douglass, to ask about the actual circumstances of his time. JFK, to ask about how the decision process went. Or just an average person in ancient times, to ask them what life was like back then.

Question: What superpower would you choose for yourself?

Telekinesis, so that I could be extremely lazy. Mom forgot to close my bedroom door? Shut it with my mind. Too lazy to take the trash out? Just use my mind. Someone put something on a top shelf I can’t reach? Jokes on you.

Question: If you had one day left on earth, how would you spend it?

Saying goodbye to friends and family, listening to some good music.

Question: How would you describe yourself with one word? Why?

Chaotic. The funny thing is, most people see me as an extremely serious person when in reality my brain had Let’s Groove by Earth, Wind & Fire on mental repeat.

Question: What was your favorite part of interning at United Way?

Seeing the impact of some of the bigger programs such as the Railer Boxcar (program at Newton High School). The student who interns there and I are part of the same program (Ag Academy) and I’ve been told stories of people in need actually getting the items that they needed. Which are often what we consider basic necessities.

Nathan Murphy, Harvey County United Way board member

By Sheila G. Kelley, Development Coordinator

Question: Where did you grow up and what was your family life like?

Answer: I grew up in Newton, KS with three brothers. I had an active upbringing being involved in sports and 4-H. My favorite sport growing up was wrestling – I got plenty of practice at home with three brothers. I have lots of stories from growing up in Newton, some of my favorites were from summer baseball where my friends and I were entertained by the shenanigans of my younger twin brothers.

Question: Who have been your strongest influences in life?

Answer: My father has been a large influence in my life because of his strong moral compass and willingness to help anyone. Another strong influence in my life has been my wife, Marissa. She has added a lot of perspective to my life that was different than how I was raised.

Question: What led you to your career?

Answer: I have always been drawn to numbers and have always wanted to see Newton grow. My current role is significant to the commercial growth in the Newton community and having access to resources to make that happen.

Question: How would friends and acquaintances describe you?

Answer: I am probably described as friendly and thought provoking.

Question: With so many volunteer opportunities in the community, why did you choose to be involved with Harvey County United Way?

Answer: United Way is a recognizable and trustworthy organization. I honestly did not know too much about United Way prior to joining the board but I am blown away by all the different impact areas of HCUW. I am also involved in many other organizations so I can’t say HCUW was my only choice!!

Question: What’s the one thing you want people to know about HCUW?

Answer: No matter what you need you should reach out to HCUW. If they don’t have a program or assistance to help directly, they have a great network of other agencies and organizations that probably can provide help or needed resources.

Nathan and his wife, Marissa, have two young boys.

By Dalton Black, executive director

For the past 16 years, the Chili Cook-Off has been a staple in the Harvey County community. It began in 2006 and was organized by Prairie Harvest and Mike Petitjean of Ameriprise Financial. Harvey County United Way took over the event in 2017 and it has been our annual fundraising event ever since.

The Chili Cook-Off is coming up on Saturday, September 24, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 6th & Main in downtown Newton. With over a thousand people in attendance, it’s a fun way to raise money. All proceeds from the event go directly toward Harvey County United Way’s work in the areas of health, education, and income stability, which aims to create lasting change for residents in need.

Attendees can expect to enjoy the beautiful fall day, and lots of chili to try. With nearly 20 booths, there’s a chili for everyone. The only rule is that it’s chili so it could be traditional, or venison chili, or white chili, or even vegan chili. As longs as it’s chili. Tickets are still $5 but they won’t be for much longer. If you don’t have a ticket before you arrive, you can still get one at the gate for $8.

In addition to all the tasty chili, we’ll also have some great entertainment throughout the day. While you’re waiting for your next round of chili, there will be plenty of music to enjoy. The Newton High School drumline will be performing, as well as Wichita band, Tequila Ridge.

After you’ve tried all the chili your stomach can handle, we invite you to choose your favorite chili and help them win the People’s Choice away. All you have to do to vote is throw a dollar bill into the jar at the booth of your choice. One dollar is one vote. Really like their chili? Throw in a $20, and they will be that much closer to winning the bragging rights.

We couldn’t put on such a fantastic event for the community without the support of our sponsors, booth participants, and volunteers. This year we will have volunteers from Bethel Men’s Basketball, Bethel Cheer, and NHS JAG-K students. A big thank you to all of them. Also, most booths will have information about their services or business. Please feel free to take that information for yourself or for someone you might know. It’s a small gesture to show them how much we appreciate what they do for our community, and for making the Chili Cook-Off the fantastic event that it is.

We hope to see you on Saturday, September 24!

Kyle Fiedler, Harvey County United Way community impact chair

By Sheila G. Kelley, Development Coordinator

Question: Tell us a little about your work and your involvement with United Way.

Answer: I have been with the City of North Newton for almost one year. I am in my second term on the United Way Board (I believe the sixth year). In 2021 the Community Impact Chair position had been open for a little while and in May or June I realized I had availability in my time to take on more opportunities and volunteered for this role.

Question: Where did you grow up and what was your family life like?

Answer: I am a lifelong Harvey County resident. My parents still live in the house where my sister and I grew up in Newton. My dad was a mechanic most of my childhood and later became a machinist. He currently works at our local hardware store.

My mom had an in-home daycare when we were kids. As we got older and she began working outside of the home, she worked at Photos Plus and Bumper to Bumper before working for a local machine shop.

Both my parents also grew up in Newton. My sister and I had very involved parents and grandparents – from school activities to sports – we were fortunate to always be surrounded by family. 

Question: Who have been your strongest influences in life?

Answer: My parents have been and continue to be the strongest influences on me, even as an adult. There are few decisions I make without their input. They both demonstrated what hard work was and what doing the right thing meant. When it came to my education, they encouraged me to go to college and supported me as they could through it.

Question: What led you to your career?

Answer: After graduating from WSU with a business degree in marketing and management, I went to work in sales for Khaos Apparel. The owner, Justin, encouraged me to get involved in several organizations, which at some point lead me to a City Commission meeting. I learned that government administration was a career field, and that WSU offered a Master’s in Public Administration.

Upon completion of that degree, I began working for Sedgwick County in the Manager’s Office as an intern and later in the Division of Finance as an Economic Development Analyst. While I enjoyed Sedgwick County, I missed out on being able to be involved at home. When the City of North Newton Administrator position became available, I was encouraged to apply. I felt that it would be a great opportunity for me to be back at home, leading and hoping to make a positive impact in a community that is part of my home. 

Question: How would friends and acquaintances describe you?

Answer: Probably one of my least favorite questions to answer… I would like to believe I would be described as a person that is dependable and has pride in the community I call home. I also may be described by others as a chicken tender, or Farmer Kyle, as people seem to know me for my flock of birds and my goats and maybe a little sarcastic. 

Question: With so many volunteer opportunities in the community, why did you choose to be involved with Harvey County United Way?

Answer: When I was first approached to be on the board, I had very little board experience and knowledge of what all United Way did. I learned about the programs HCUW had and the areas which the organization strives to make an impact and thought opportunities with HCUW would be one way to make positive impacts in many areas across our county.

Question: What’s the one thing you want people to know about HCUW?

Answer: With community donations, HCUW supports many organizations that serve people of Harvey County. As an organization, we funnel funds raised to support programs that follow our core goals of Health, Income and Education.

Danielle Randall, Harvey County United Way secretary

By Sheila G. Kelley, Development Coordinator

Question: Where did you grow up and what was your family life like?

Answer: Although I was born in Winfield, Kansas, and spent my first two years there, I consider myself a lifelong Newtonian. I have one sister, Michelle, and we grew up just south of Newton on three acres. It was really the best of country living coupled with the conveniences of suburban life. My dad, Dan Randall, was a Newton High School teacher and basketball coach and spent his summers farming on the family farm in western Harvey County. My mom was a banker and somehow managed to keep our home running smoothly while working full-time. We also had foster children in and out of our home most of my growing up years. Our home was busy but very happy.

Question: Who have been your strongest influences in life?

Answer: My mother, Susan Randall Bradrick, has always been the strongest influence in my life. She quietly and fiercely lived a life of faith and invested so much of her time in family, friends, and her community. She modeled unconditional love and acceptance for our family. She didn’t necessarily have an easy life, but I never heard her complain.

Both of my parents and grandparents taught us to work hard and to never give up. When my dad wasn’t working his daily job of teaching, he was often farming, coaching, or working at the church. My mother worked full-time almost my entire life plus volunteered on different boards, as a Bigs in Schools, as a counselor at our local pregnancy care center and at our church. She was well known in our local business community and was the first female officer at First Bank of Newton. We were taught from a very young age that you can do anything you want to so long as you are willing to work hard. If we showed an interest in something, our parents made sure we had every opportunity to try it. But, once we started something, we weren’t allowed to quit when things got difficult. We were taught perseverance and hard work are often the keys to success.

Question: What led you to your career?

Answer: My career has recently taken an exciting new turn. After working as a legal assistant for the same law firm for 25 years, I took a position with a local independent insurance agency, Krueger Insurance. Although I never imagined myself in the insurance industry, I am so excited about the opportunity to work in a customer service-related field. I am a people person and I love the contact I have with our customers. I also have more opportunities to get involved in our community. My “Second Act” is sure to be full of exciting new challenges and rewarding opportunities.

Question: How would friends and acquaintances describe you?

Answer: I hope my friends would describe me as kind, encouraging, fiercely independent (bordering on stubborn), forgiving, loyal and open minded.

Question: With so many volunteer opportunities in the community, why did you choose to be involved with Harvey County United Way?

Answer: My mother was involved with HCUW for more than 20 years before her death – serving on and chairing the Board, chairing the Community Investments Committee, as a volunteer on various committees and as a volunteer with some of our partner agencies. As I was raising my children, I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps once I had more time to volunteer. I truly love United Way’s mission to improve the education, income, and health of Harvey County residents. I believe everyone in Harvey County has been impacted, either directly or indirectly, by our work.

Question: What’s the one thing you want people to know about HCUW? 

Answer: I believe this Mr. Rogers quote most accurately describes what I love about HCUW – “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”

There are so many unsung heroes who donate to or volunteer with HCUW, working together to respond to the needs of our community. The impact we can have, collectively, to leave this community a better place than we found it is an overwhelming responsibility and privilege that HCUW embraces.

By Dalton Black, Executive Director

Recently I was reminded what an Everyday Hero looks like. They weren’t someone wearing a cape, masking their identity, or performing some grand gesture. They look like a school administrator. They look like an insurance agent. They look like a nurse. They look like university staff. They look like you.

I was at an event not long ago where a person in attendance had a medical emergency. It was frightening for everyone there. Personally, it sent my anxiety through the roof. But I was astounded by the folks who jumped into action to help them. These folks showed no hesitation to make sure this person was safe and received the help they needed. Not all of them had medical training, and that didn’t matter. They called the emergency medical services and sat with this person until EMTs arrived. These heroes were brave, empathetic, and knew, regardless of if they were prepared to handle the situation, they couldn’t leave a fellow citizen without aid.

The whole way back to my office that day, I kept thinking these are the kinds of people who make the world a better place. They were ordinary. They had no grand skills or know-how that made them the most qualified. They were everyday folks being everyday heroes for their neighbor.

In the end, we can all be Everyday Heroes. All we need is a bit of compassion and bravery. Maybe jumping into action isn’t for you, but there are lots of other ways you can be a hero for someone in need.

Volunteer. There are many nonprofits in Harvey County, including United Way, that rely on volunteers to meet their mission. If you don’t have a lot to give, giving your time to an organization that speaks to you is the best way to be involved. Maybe you have an hour in the morning where you could deliver a handful of meals to homebound seniors. Maybe you have an hour lunch break where you could sit in a classroom and help a student learn to read. Giving just 5 hours a month to helping a nonprofit organization goes a long way to further their reach and clients they can serve.

Advocate. If you’re really passionate about an organization and volunteering isn’t quite enough, then maybe it’s time for you to step into an advocacy role. Maybe you feel strongly about working to address poverty in our community. Take some time to speak with one of your state representatives and encourage them to find ways to address the issue. Maybe it’s about LGBTQ+ rights. Speak with your legislators about how you’d like them to represent your interests with their votes. Advocate for change. Be a voice for those who need it most. This will do a lot to make change for folks who are served by your favorite nonprofit organization. 

Give. The biggest way you can help a nonprofit is by providing a financial donation. With your donation, they will be able to provide more meals to seniors, more advocates for children in need of protection, more training for volunteers, and so much more to further their individual missions. Donations don’t have to be huge. Twenty dollars can go a long way for many organizations. If you’re able to give large gifts, even better, but gifts of any size are valuable. Consider the giving strategy that’s best for you. Maybe it’s just a one-time gift. Or maybe it’s a monthly donation of $10 per month, which would allow you to give a lot more over the course of a year than you might be able to by giving a one-time donation. 

No matter which activity is right for you, I encourage you to step-up and be an Everyday Hero for someone in our community. Find something you’re passionate about, reach out to a nonprofit doing that work, and find out how you can make a difference. We can all make a difference when we Live United.