On June 24, 2025, United Way of South Central Nebraska held its Annual Meeting, and we’re thrilled to share the incredible impact your generosity has had over the past year! Thanks to your unwavering support, we raised and invested over
$1.4 million directly into our community! This isn’t just a number; it represents lives changed, families strengthened, and futures made brighter right here in Adams, Clay, Nuckolls, and Webster Counties.

Making a Tangible Difference
Your contributions are at work in powerful ways:

• Born Learning Trail at Lake Hastings: Providing hands-on educational opportunities for local families.
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Delivering a free book every month to nearly 1,300 children, fostering a love for reading from an early age.
• Expanded Reach: We’re proud to welcome Crossroads Mission Avenue and Salvation Army as new partner agencies, expanding our ability to serve those in need. We also celebrated our dedicated existing United Way Partner Agencies who tirelessly serve our area.

Bridging Forward: Lifting Families Out of Poverty
We’re seeing remarkable progress with our Bridging Forward initiative, launched nearly two years ago with the bold goal of reducing poverty by 30% (or 1,400 individuals) by 2030. We’re thrilled to announce that 122 individuals have already been lifted out of poverty in our area!

The impact is clear: participants have seen an average income increase of 154%, a 46% decrease in debt, and a significant reduction in reliance on government assistance. More importantly, these numbers mean more stable households for children, individuals maintaining employment, advancing their education, and truly thriving in our community. While we still have a journey ahead, we’re celebrating this incredible momentum and the dedication of these 122 individuals who are committed to bettering their lives and those around them.

A New Chapter: Moving to the Heart of Hastings
We’re excited to announce that by the end of the year, United Way will be relocating to the main floor of the Hastings Tribune building on the corner of 2nd and Burlington! This move symbolizes our continued growth and commitment to being more accessible to the communities we serve. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce for their years of partnership in our current space, and to Darran Fowler and the Seaton Corporation for their incredible generosity in making this move possible. This new location is an investment in the heart of South Central Nebraska!

Recognizing Our Champions
We also took time to celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations who make our work possible:

• Outgoing Board Members: A heartfelt thank you to Dave Long, our outgoing Board President, for his exceptional leadership. We also recognized and thanked Jason Ackles, Colleen Schukei, and Kyla Habrock as their terms on the Board of Directors have concluded.
• New Board Members: We proudly welcomed Eric Gawrych and Ashley Sterling to our Board of Directors, and approved the 2025 Slate of Officers: President – Pierce Fiala, Vice President – Lauren Overmiller, and Treasurer – Angie Pinkerman.
• 2026 Campaign Chairs: We enthusiastically welcomed William and Amy Hermes as our new Campaign Chairs, and thanked Joe & Nikayla Kindig for their outstanding leadership as our 2025 Campaign Chairs.
• Top 10 Employer Campaigns: We recognized the top workplaces for their incredible generosity, including:
  1. PaperWorks
  2. Dutton-Lainson Company
  3. Mary Lanning Healthcare
  4. T-L Irrigation Company
  5. Hastings Public Schools
  6. Five Points Bank
  7. Thermo King
  8. Centennial Plastics
  9. Pinnacle Bank
  10. Redline Specialty Pharmacy

Special Recognition Awards

• Community Partnership Award: Heartwell Renewables was honored for their unprecedented commitment to
  United Way, including their volunteer work on the Born Learning Trail and participation in Toys for Tots.
  
• Spirit Award: Joe & Nikayla Kindig received this award for their outstanding humanitarian efforts, leadership, and resources, including their innovation in establishing our successful Vine & Dine event.
• Impact Award: Tim & Hilarie Redline were recognized for their tangible, measurable impact on the community, exemplified by their donation of two vehicles to our Wheels for Work program.
• Honorary Council Member: Mark Funkey was inducted into the United Way of South Central Nebraska Honorary Council for his nearly 10 years of dedicated support and leadership.
• Inez C. Peterson Award: Our most prestigious honor was presented to Teena Kucera for her outstanding dedication to the community and United Way, mirroring the transformative vision of Inez C. Peterson herself.

As we look to the future, we acknowledge that these are uncertain times for nonprofits. Economic pressures and evolving community needs present challenges that require continued partnership. Now, more than ever, we need your ongoing support to ensure United Way remains a vital force for positive change in South Central Nebraska.

Thank you for believing in our work, investing in our shared vision, and partnering with us to build a stronger community. Your support truly creates lasting change!