On June 9, we hosted our first annual Day of Action. This community-wide volunteer event was sponsored by MU Health Care and included nearly 100 volunteers who worked on projects for City of Refuge, Coyote Hill, Love Columbia, Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Services for Independent Living, First Chance for Children, Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity, and City of Columbia parks. 

The day began with a kickoff event at Dexheimer Shelter located in Cosmo Park. MU Health Care Chief Executive Officer Ric Ransom, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick, and Heart of Missouri United Way President and CEO Andrew Grabau each gave inspiring remarks to start the day. We then celebrated our newest Give 5 graduating class and wrapped up the morning’s event with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting.  

Sponsored by

New Summer Team Members

Maddy Pringle has joined the United Way team as a summer Communications Associate! She is conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis of community impact data and assisting with content for the website and newsletter. 

Maddy is a doctoral student in communication at the University of Missouri. She has worked as the Department Assistant, Instructor of Record, and Research Assistant for the Department of Communication at Mizzou. She has also worked as the Editorial Assistant for Management Communication Quarterly, a prestigious organizational communication journal.

Sydney Graham has joined our team for the summer as a Communications Associate! She is focused on content creation highlighting the outcomes of 45 United Way-funded programs in our community. 

Sydney is a doctoral student in organizational communication at the University of Missouri. She is an Instructor of Communication at Mizzou and has previously worked as the Social Media Specialist and Communications Coordinator at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C.

Advisory Council: Health and Basic Needs 

Active Period: August 2023 through October 2023

Function: The purpose of the Heart of Missouri United Way Advisory Council is to provide increased transparency in the impact investment process. Advisory Council volunteers are responsible for recommending to the United Way Board of Directors the best way to invest funds raised in our community for our community. Throughout the process, volunteers must promote values of inclusion, diversity, and equity and advanced equitable opportunities for all. With requests for funds routinely in excess of available funding, the Advisory Council volunteers have a complex and difficult set of decisions.

Composition: This Advisory Council is comprised of a diverse group of volunteers from the community. Their commitment to serve is to improve the health and well-being of all residents. 

Council Activities: The Advisory Council will meet regularly during the active investment process, which occurs annually from late August through late October. Activities include training sessions, reading written grant proposals, attending proposal presentations, participating in virtual Q&A Sessions, and multiple decision-making/recommendation discussions.

If you have any questions, contact Courtney Daviess, Chief Community Impact Officer at [email protected]. 

Advisory Council Applications close on July 12, 2023

Volunteer Opportunities

Partners in Sustainable Development International:

Board of Directors

PSDI is looking for Board members to help us identify donor prospects and family foundations to support our work eradicating poverty in Bangladesh.

Board meetings occur six times per year via Zoom. Meetings happen the fourth Monday of the month from 3-4 pm.

Services for Independent Living: Grocery Shopping Assistance

Grocery Shopping Assistance is a part of our Senior Connect program to ensure that seniors in our community are able to meet their basic needs while also keeping their independence. Our volunteers will provide the seniors with transportation to the grocery store and assist them with grocery shopping. .

Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity: Habitat ReStore Volunteer

The ReStore is a building material and home goods thrift store that functions as a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. The ReStore is open Tuesday-Saturday from 8:30 am-4 pm.

Volunteers here will help with donations, pricing items, getting them on shelves, cleaning, helping customers, and so on. It is a fun place to volunteer and is much more than the typical retail environment.

Agency Spotlight: Central Missouri Community Action

Heart of Missouri United Way in the News

Show Me Mizzou: United Way honors Dennis Gates and Jim Spain

Mark Gingrich, Member at Williams Keepers LLC, and Heart of Missouri United Way Board Member and Treasurer received the Heart of Missouri United Way Jack Matthews Award for leadership, dedication, and achievement. You can read our news release here.

Upcoming Events

SAVE THE DATE

Day of Caring & Campaign Kickoff

August 30, 2023

Heart of Missouri United Way invests in programs at nonprofit organizations in the impact areas of health and basic needs, education, and financial stability. Our investments reach individuals and families in Boone, Cooper, and Howard Counties. Donate today to make an impact in your community.

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