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With a degree in social work from Central Missouri State University and a background in mental health, programming, volunteer management and fundraising, Kerrie Bloss is no stranger to the impact of United Way.
Kerrie moved to Columbia almost 28 years ago after working at a residential treatment facility for children with mental health, behavioral support & educational needs in Des Moines. Kerrie had 3 goals when she first moved to Columbia: find a job, a place to live and become a Big Sister. She quickly accomplished the first two settling into a new home and taking her experience from Des Moines to become the child and adolescent social worker at Charter Behavioral Health Systems. Within months she became a Big Sister to a 6-year-old little girl through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri (BBBS) and still maintains that relationship to this day.
Her love for BBBS led her to join the team as a case manager and over her 15-year tenure found a passion for fundraising, events, major gifts and corporate partnerships. That passion made her a great candidate for a role in fundraising events and corporate partnerships at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbia (BGC) where she spent almost 10 years increasing revenue each year. Her time at BGC also allowed her to attend the Philanthropy Leadership Institute at the Lily School of Philanthropy learning from the top professors at The Fund Raising school.
Along the way Kerrie has been deeply involved in the community with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network and Chamber Ambassadors, Rotary, and multiple organizations as a volunteer. She’s received recognition for her contributions being an ATHENA Young Professional Award recipient, 20 under 40 Award Recipient, Columbia Chamber Ambassador of the Year, COMO Magazine IMPACT Awards Most Impactful Staff Member, and most recently given the Outstanding Citizen Award by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
In 2023, Kerrie made the decision to step into the unknown and took on growing local marketing efforts and community engagement for Nothing Bundt Cakes (who were her stewardship partners at BGC) and took her philanthropy knowledge to the Community Foundation of Central Missouri. If that wasn’t enough, The COMO Companies enlisted her expertise to assist potential clients with their marketing needs.
In a full circle moment, she joined the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri and Heart of Missouri United Way shortly thereafter. Kerrie is a strong proponent for agility and forward thinking in resource development to help United Way locally improve available resources and community support across mid-Missouri’s non-profit sector.
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