Our Mission
The mission of the United Way of the Ozarks is to increase understanding of human needs and to mobilize resources to meet these needs.
We care for one another through:
- Providing leadership to identify and solve community problems
- Developing and allocation resources to meet community human service needs.
- Providing assistance to strengthen the health and human service delivery system.
- Enhancing communications to foster meaningful involvement with donors and volunteers.
Our History
United Way of the Ozarks enjoys a rich heritage that can trace its origins to 1930, when a special committee of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce "perfected a plan for a Community Chest." On October 13, 1930, a new corporation, the Springfield Community Chest, Inc., elected a board of directors consisting of 28 members.
The first board chairman was J. M. Quinn. The first campaign was lead by Rev. W. H. Mansfield to benefit 17 organizations. Its purpose was to minimize "the impact of conflicting charitable requests upon Springfield."
By 1952, the campaign was known as the Community Chest - Red Cross Campaign. Later campaigns were known as the United Appeal and the United Fund.
In 1962, a permanent organization, "United Fund", was formed with a newly elected board of directors representing both donors and member agencies.
The change to "United Way of the Ozarks" in 1979 reflected the regional emphasis and responsibilities of the organization.
In 1994, a unique partnership was formed between Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Ozarks. The board of directors of both organizations agreed to support a combined capital campaign which would provide the first building owned by United Way and enable the Chamber of Commerce to build a new building.
The campaign was a success and a new structure, named the "John Q. Hammons Enterprise Center", was built for the Chamber of Commerce. The previous Chamber building was titled to United Way debt free, including furniture and fixtures.
On June 12, 1996, the building at 320 North Jefferson Avenue was dedicated as the "Clarence R. Wheeler Center" in appreciation to the principal donor and committed to the mission and work of providing a better quality of life for this and future generations in the Ozarks.
By 1996, United Way of the Ozarks had more than 400 campaign volunteers and 27 member agencies serving 23 counties in southwest Missouri.
The 2008 campaign raised $3,443,698 for member agencies. 98% of the total goal was raised while facing a very unsettled economic climate during the fall campaign.
March 2009 - BKD's Southern Missouri Foundation announces at the March 3 annual meeting that they are gifting to the 23 United Way partner agencies, $105,000 to bring agency allocation funding to the original 2008 level.
Professional Staff
Jennifer Kennally
President/CEO
Ext. 223
jkennally@uwozarks.com
Cindy Howell
Vice President - Resource Development & Marketing
Ext. 229
chowell@uwozarks.com
Sheri Lupton
Sr. Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Ext. 225
slupton@uwozarks.com
Becky Morgan
Coordinator of Community Investment
Ext 240
bmorgan@uwozarks.com
Autumn Porter
Tri Lakes United Way Coordinator
aporter@uwozarks.com
Megan Blevins
Resource Development Specialist
Ext. 230
mblevins@uwozarks.com
Rennie Diekemper
AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison
Ext. 227
rdiekemper@uwozarks.comm
Susan Boyd
Director of Administration
Ext. 222
sboyd@uwozarks.com
LaTrisia Beeman
Accounts Payable Financial Assistant
Ext. 232
lbeeman@uwozarks.com
Adele Alton
Staff Accountant
Ext. 242
aalton@uwozarks.com
Shellie Jones
Director of Resource Development
Ext. 224
Sjones@uwozarks.com
Board of Directors
Gary Garwitz
BKD LLP
Chairman
Linda Ramey-Greiwe
News-Leader
Vice Chairman
Raylene Appleby
PJC Insurance
Secretary
Jan Baumgartner
Springfield First Community Bank
Treasurer
Raylene Appleby
PJC Insurance
Secretary
Brian McDonough
KY3
Associate Campaign Chair
Paul Williams
Springfield Police Chief
Campaign Chair
Greg Beck
O'Reilly Auto Parts
Community Investment Chair
Greg Burris
City of Springfield
Immediate Past Chairman
Dick Wilson
IBEW #753
Union Representative
Jim Arnott
Greene County Sheriff
Roseann Bentley
Associate Greene County Commissioner
Kenny Boggs
Teamsters Local 245
Virginia Fry
Husch Blackwell
Keith Boatright
SRC Holdings Corp.
John Hursh
Cox Health
David Cook
The Bank of Missouri
Dr. Nancy O’Reilly
O’Reilly Health & Wellness Consultation Svcs.
Matt Gifford
Springfield Cardinals
Julie Jones
Mercy Health
Francine Pratt
Dr. Norm Ridder
Springfield Public Schools
Rodney Shepard
Arvest Bank
Clif Smart
Missouri State University
Wade Stinson
City Utilities