2017 Annual Report
Amarillo & Canyon
A Letter From Your President

David Hemphill
Board President of United Way in Amarillo and Canyon
How do we determine the health of our community? How do we address and improve areas that are determined to be short of the desired goal? These are among the questions that the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon attempts to answer. Our dedicated staff works with twenty to thirty partner agencies, hundreds of dedicated community volunteers and thousands of individuals and businesses who donate time, money, materials and services to provide answers to these questions.
Our annual Community Impact Report provides consistent and detailed information that helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses in our Community. This helps the United Way and our partner agencies develop programs and services that address the needs and helps give the United Way Community Impact Council, which is comprised of community volunteers, direction on how to allocate campaign funds to help address the identified areas.
The goal of the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon is to help provide funding to programs that both meet the immediate basic needs of today, such as food, clothing and shelter, as well as to identify and provide health, education and financial stability programs that will help educate individuals in a way that will give them the tools to help them break the poverty cycle. I am very thankful for the leadership provided by our campaign co-chairs, Dr. Dana West and Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. They live and breathe the notion that our youth need to graduate with skills that will allow them to earn a living wage.
I am also very excited about our Ed, Work, Wed program that teaches the basic principal that if you make decisions to get your education, then work and then have a two-adult home prior to having children, you will almost eliminate the risk of living at or below the poverty line.
In many ways, the ability to improve our community depends on our ability to provide a hand up to those who wish to improve their life. The good news is that we have a significant amount of influence in this process and the result is one in which the individual(s) helped, and the community are both winners. While I thank you for your help, I must challenge you with the fact that we need to do more. If you are a United Way supporter, please consider increasing your investment and please consider encouraging your friends and co-workers to give. If you are not a current United Way supporter, please consider investing in your community by supporting the United Way.
In closing, I would like to share a quote from Max Lucado, “Want to snatch a day from the manacles of boredom? Do overgenerous deeds, acts beyond reimbursement. Kindness without compensation. Do a deed for which you cannot be repaid.”
Thank you,
David Hemphill
Success Story
Mrs. R’s daughter was given a choice. Quit her job to be a full time care giver for her mother, or continue to work and place her in a nursing home. Watch the video to learn about the programs we fund in Health.
Our Team
2017-2018
Board of Directors
Executive Board
-David Hemphill, President
-Mike Good, Immediate Past President
-Dean Frigo, Treasurer
-David Hudson, Secretary
-Jim Bryan,
Vice President Financial Accountability
-Mary Coyne,
Vice President Marketing & Communication
-Randy Criswell,
Incoming Board President (2018/2019)
-Dr. Michael Hooten, Vice President Community Services/GSRC
-Aaron Howerton,
Vice President Community Impact
-Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart,
Vice President Campaign
-Dr. Dana West,
Vice President Campaign
Governing Board
Dr. Amjad Abdullat
W. Ashley Allen
Brenda Alward
Louise Anderson
Lance Andrews
Mark Crawford
Barton Cromeens
Chief Ed Drain
Russ Duncan
Dr. Darryl Flusche
Julie L. Hulsey
Bowden E. Jones, Jr.
Steven S. Jones
John Luciano
Shannon Massey
Patti McKnight
Jeff Mitchell
Antonio Mora
Joe Morris
Mercy Murguia
Monica A. Musick
Marcus Norris
Teresa Prock
Michelle Reichert
Ernesto Sanchez
Betty Solis
Steve Stockton
Dr. Walter Wendler
Management Staff
-Katie Noffsker, Executive Director
-Belinda Crelia-Palacios,
Sr. Director of Community Impact
-Charla Hakimi,
Director of Administration & Training
-Muhsin Kazemipour, CPA, Finance Director
-Kasey Long, Major Gifts Officer
-Kelly Stephens,
Director of 2-1-1 Texas Panhandle
-Honnah Taylor,
Marketing & Communication Director
-Jeff Whitsell, Sr. Director of Resource Development Director

Leadership Donors
Council Members
Loaned Executives
View
First Name/Last Name | Company |
Steve Abrahamson | Xcel Energy |
Karina Acevedo | Street Toyota |
Kim Banner | City of Canyon |
David Branscum | Toot’n Totum |
Seth Breeding | Bell |
Yolanda Castillo | Happy State Bank |
Bryan Chaffin | First United Bank |
Tracy Cooper | ASARCO |
Curtis Crump | Amarillo ISD |
Adrian Deleon | United Supermarkets |
Nicole Eminger | CNS Pantex |
Ryan Escalon | Street Toyota |
Jason Fenton | Underwood Law Firm |
Jameson Findley | Bank of America |
Darla Fish | CNS Pantex |
Katie Fortner | Amarillo National Bank |
Blake Fulton | Bell |
Kimberley Gardner | United Way of Amarillo & Canyon |
Jackie Gavlik | TTUHSC |
Trevor Guston | Bell |
Rodney Hess | ASARCO |
Brent Hoover | Amarillo ISD |
Storm Hughes | Street Toyota |
Rick Keller | Texas Dodge/AutoInc |
Candice Kirkpatrick | Hope & Healing Place |
Joyce Knight | Amarillo College |
Bonnie Lasher | Community Volunteer |
Glenn Lavender | City of Amarillo |
Becky Lopez | WTAMU |
Jarrod Madden | Amarillo College |
Pam Madden | Amarillo College |
Salvador Martinez, Jr. | All Star Dodge/AutoInc |
Billy May | The English Rose |
Mark Mechenbier | Xcel Energy |
David Meraz | Street Volkswagen |
Chris Morris | Happy State Bank |
Shannon Mullins | Atmos Energy |
Mark Owens | CNS Pantex |
Sasha Palma | Bell |
Katy Parrish | Suddenlink |
Tyler Perdue | United Supermarkets |
Cindy Perez | City of Amarillo |
Perry Perkins | BSA |
Sadie Pitts | Johnson & Sheldon |
Alisha Platts | Amarillo National Bank |
Terry Price | Xcel Energy |
Chris Ramirez | FirstBank Southwest |
Megan Reed | Bell |
Adam Schaer | W Silver Recycling |
Sheila Seymore | City of Canyon |
Brian Shannon | TriState Ford/AutoInc |
Tracy Shea | WTAMU |
Sherry Spells-Washington | TDCJ Clements |
Darin Stollings | NCW Insurance |
Michael Sugden | Amarillo College |
Charles Thomas | CNS Pantex |
Brittany Trusty | FirstCapital Bank |
Elexi Vasquez | Street Volkswagen |
Chris Villegas | Street Toyota |
Ronnie Walker | Xcel Energy |
Eric Wallace | Amarillo College |
Jason West | Happy State Bank |
Stacy Yates | City of Amarillo |

Youth Leadership
The United Way of Amarillo & Canyon Youth Leadership Cabinet (YLC) is designed to enhance the United Way mission by replicating the United Way general campaign at the high school level. The 2017-2018 YLC is comprised of about 70 students representing eight local high schools from five school districts. The YLC, along with numerous company and community volunteers, hosted United Way of Amarillo & Canyon’s annual Youth Day at the Civic Center in October. Youth Day was attended by over 800 students from 18 area middle schools and high schools and acted as the catalyst for a successful youth-led campaign. After Youth Day the YLC is tasked with raising awareness at their schools for the needs in the community, enhancing their knowledge of the community programs supported by United Way of Amarillo & Canyon, raising funds at their schools, and then allocating those funds to United Way partner agencies servicing the most critical areas of need. The funds raised through the Youth Campaign are donated entirely by students from grades K-12 at campuses all across our community.
This year, 11 applications from 8 agencies were submitted to request project-specific funding. YLC students conducted program site visits, evaluated applications, and diligently made funding decisions for the money raised. At a press conference in April, the YLC presented checks to each agency. United Way of Amarillo & Canyon is proud to partner with these young adults to help plant the seed of philanthropic principles to our future leaders.
Agencies |
Amount |
Amarillo Recovery from Alcohol & Drugs (ARAD)- Shelter Treatment Program |
4,100.00 |
Area Agency on Aging -Food Net |
4,000.00 |
Boys & Girls Club- Triple Play Basketball |
2,400.00 |
Boys & Girls Club- Triple Play Mind- Rolling Hills |
2,500.00 |
Golden Spread Council Boy Scouts of America -ScoutReach |
3,800.00 |
Catholic Charities- Inner Faith Hunger Project |
1,000.00 |
Epilepsy Foundation of West Texas- Art Program |
3,545.36 |
Girls Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains – Outdoor Program at Camp Kiwanis |
3,500.00 |
Amarillo Wesley Community Center – Senior Citizen Program |
3,304.80 |
Amarillo Wesley Community Center -Behind the Scenes Modeling and Mentor Program |
4,500.00 |
TOTAL |
$32,650.16 |
Day of Caring
On Friday, April 21, 2017, hundreds of volunteers in our community came together to dedicate their time to making a difference. This incredible effort to serve our community represents a close partnership between United Way of Amarillo & Canyon, our nonprofit partners, community partners, sponsors and volunteers who stood up to make a difference. Great things happen when we Live United!
SEE OUR IMPACT
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Agencies
Volunteers
Projects
Hours
$ Saved






Success Story
Amy was shy and withdrawn when she first joined the after-school program. Watch the video to learn more about Amy and the programs we fund in Education.
Our Mission
Donors
100k-249,999
La Société Nationale
Xcel Energy |
Amarillo National Bank |
50k-99,999
Ordre de Fraternité
CNS Pantex Plant |
Zachry Group |
25k-49,999
Ordre de Liberté
United Supermarkets, LLC, District |
AutoInc |
Valero Services, Inc. – Amarillo |
10k-24,999
Membres de la Société
Budweiser Distributing Co. |
Bell |
Caviness Beef Packers |
Happy State Bank |
Amarillo Business Foundation |
First United Bank |
FirstCapital Bank of Texas |
Duke Electric Company, Inc. |
NuStar Energy |
Panhandle Unions |
Bank of America Merrill Lynch |
Toot’n Totum Food Stores, LLC |
7,500-9,999
Platinum
CSI Meridian Division |
Nationwide Insurance |
Underwood Law Firm, P.C. |
5,000-7,499
Gold
BNSF Railway Company |
Cenex Harvest States |
Walmart Stores |
The English Rose Boutique |
2,500-4,999
Silver
AT&T, Inc. |
United Parcel Service |
Amarillo Gear Company |
Enterprise Rent-A-Car |
Oeschger Family Foundation |
Street Auto Group |
1,000-2,499
Bronze
Johnson & Sheldon, PLLC/ProPay |
Whataburger |
Dillard’s Department Store |
Access Community Credit Union |
Betenbough Homes |
Connor, McMillon, Mitchell, Shennum, PLLC |
ONEOK Westex Transmission |
Jack B. Kelley, Inc. |
Texas Cattle Feeders Association |
AimBank |
American Equipment & Trailer, Inc. |
Bruckner Truck Sales, Inc. |
Choice Media |
FMC Services, LLC |
Target Corporation # 221 |
March 3, 2018
Victory Gala
This elegant event celebrated the accomplishments of donors and volunteers from the 2017-2018 annual fundraising campaign. The following awards were presented:
50 Plus Certificate
See the Winners
Accolade Home Health
Amarillo Air Conditioning
Amarillo Family Physicians
Baptist Community Services
Bell
Dillard’s
Eli Lilly
Fairly Group
Jersey Mike’s
Palace Coffee
Street Volkswagen
United Way of Amarillo & Canyon
Whataburger
Read Award Description
This award is given to all companies that had a total giving of 50% or more over the previous year’s campaign.
Newcomer Award
Winners:
Brown, Graham & Company
Read Award Description
This award is given to the company that exemplifies the United Way spirit by conducting the most successful new workplace campaign. Brown, Graham & Company employees raised $1,920 for the 2017-2018 United Way of Amarillo & Canyon campaign; the average gift per employee was $384.
Spirit of the High Plains Award
Winners:
Bell
Read Award Description
This award is given to a company that has 50 or more employees and demonstrates a commitment to the United Way mission by the number of employee donors, average employee gift, total amount raised and percentage increase over their previous year’s campaign. Bell had a 76% increase in employee participation. Their average gift was $396.84 and their total campaign including, a corporate match, was $126,498, which was an increase of 40% over the 2016 campaign.
Exceptional Achievement Award
Winners:
Amarillo Family Physicians
Read Award Description
This award is given to the company that represents the United Way spirit of excellence by conducting a workplace campaign that results in the highest percentage increase over the previous year’s campaign. Amarillo Family Physicians had an employee campaign that totaled a total of $3,957 and an increased by 414% over their 2016 campaign.
Summit Award
Winners:
Street Volkswagon
Read Award Description
This award is given to a company with 50 or fewer employees and demonstrates a commitment to the United Way mission by the number of employee donors, average employee gift, total amount raised and percentage increase over their previous year’s campaign. Street Volkswagen had an increase of 52% employee participation, their average gift was $421.97 and their total campaign was $18,567, which was an increase of 54.47% over the 2016 campaign.
Loaned Executive of the Year
Winners:
Elexi Vasquez, Street Auto Group
Read Award Description
This award is given to the loaned executive that demonstrates excellence and commitment to the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon’s mission by their participation in meetings and events, quality of their United Way presentations, willingness to go above and beyond their assignments and is an uplifting and positive team member.
Assistant Team Leader of the Year
Winners:
Billy May, The English Rose
Read Award Description
This award is given to the assistant team leader that demonstrates excellence and commitment to the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon’s mission by their participation in meetings and events, ability to work well with the team leader, is an inspiration to their team, helps in developing their LE’s skills and working their assignments and is an uplifting and a positive team member.
Team Leader of the Year
Winners:
Pam Madden, Amarillo College
Read Award Description
This award is given to the team leader that demonstrates excellence and commitment to the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon’s mission by their participation in meetings and events, inspiration to their team, help in developing their LE’s skills and working their assignments and is an uplifting and positive team member.
Excellence in
Community Impact
Winners:
Cecil Glovier, PrimePro Business Solutions
Read Award Description
Cecil Glovier worked diligently for Happy State Bank, as a Senior Vice President for 25 years, and currently serves as President of PrimePro Business Solutions. Cecil is this year’s winner of the Excellence in Community Impact Award.
Cecil has been a committed Health Council member for United Way of Amarillo & Canyon for 8 years and in this past year also started serving on the Income council.
He and his wife, Deborah, have been married for over 41 years and have 2 children, Amanda and Caleb. His greatest and dearest love is his savior Jesus Christ and his family is his pride and joy. Cecil does everything with those as his focus. Both he and Deborah serve in the “4 Amarillo” Downtown Church Fellowship, offering assistance to the homeless, Martha’s Home, and paying utilities to those in need. In the spring and summer he plants and tends a garden of enormous size, ¼ or more of an acre from which he gives fresh vegetables to the elderly at their church.
Cecil has a servant’s heart and strives to share his blessings with those in need of a hand up. His steadfast participation, his zeal for the cause, and his guiding leadership has been stellar.
Thank you Cecil for all you continue to contribute to our community.
Excellence in
Community Outreach
Winners:
Chris Villegas, Street Auto Group
Read Award Description
Elizabeth Andrews once said, “Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time they just have the heart.” This quote stands true for one outstanding volunteer, Chris Villegas.
Chris has served above and beyond as a loaned executive for United Way of Amarillo & Canyon for 3 years, serves on the Education Council, and over the last year and a half has stepped up as a member not only for a focus group for the newly launched Young Professionals Group, but also serves as Membership and Social Co-chair. He has been active in many other aspects of United Way as well, helping with the annual Kickoff Luncheon, Youth Leadership day, spending countless hours creating a video diary of our Loaned Executive Training, and slaving over a hot grill or stove cooking for various events.
Chris has given his heart and time representing the Street Auto Group in numerous capacities over the last several years. He loves the company he works for and because of it he has been able to help so many organizations outside of work. He has also had the opportunity to speak at conferences educating others on digital marketing in the auto dealership business, and with every endeavor he has made many connections and plugged into the community any way he can. Chris is always willing to help no matter the project or time of day. When he volunteers, he does it with heart and vigor. Along with United Way, he has a passion for organizations benefiting children, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Amarillo and The Hope and Healing Place. His true love is being able to utilize his video and social media skills to benefit these organizations.
It’s not just Chris that stands behind United Way, his entire family supports his volunteer endeavors. They are extremely proud of all he does within our community. Above all, Chris is proud to be teaching his sons what it means to have a giving heart.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to this organization and your community!
President’s Significant Achievement Award
Winners:
Aaron Howerton, Mission Matters Group
Read Award Description
The award is given to Aaron Howerton. Aaron is a young man who has the rare ability to both see the big picture and the detail, to see the problem and help develop and implement solutions. As a former executive director for a partner non-profit agency, he brings a unique perspective to his role as a United Way of Amarillo & Canyon board member. As an individual, his personal beliefs and passion about the need and ways to help and treat people are seen in his role in working with our Community Impact Councils that allocate funding to partner agencies. His given talent as a leader and communicator are seen in his ability to inspire people through his involvement in Loaned Executive training and in helping to start and build the Young Professional’s United program. While these are all reasons enough to be selected for this award, the most important reason is that Aaron is an individual who has a passion to see that all people have an opportunity to be successful, that all people are treated with dignity and respect and that the more success the individuals in our community have, the stronger and more successful our community will become.
Volunteer of
the Year
Winners:
David Hemphill, Castleberry Group – Sonic
Read Award Description
This award is given to David Hemphill, CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of the Castleberry Group–Sonic Drive-Ins. He has a BBA from Texas Tech University-Rawls College of Business.
David began serving on the UWAC Board in April 2010, and continues to do so to this day. He also is an active member of the Guyon Saunders Resource Center Board of Directors and has been an asset in the financial and building plans for the GSRC organization.
David is competent, faithful, and dedicated, and has a high level of business acumen. He has the best interest of the community at heart, and you can tell by his involvement with United Way. He goes above and beyond to support our volunteers and our staff by attending almost all LE meetings, multiple Youth meetings, Young Professional gatherings, and countless UWAC events. David’s investment in volunteering produces many beneficial outcomes for the programs funded by United Way of Amarillo & Canyon, and honestly, is a light and an example of how we all can lead. Thank you, David, for truly living UNITED.

Sybil B. Harrington Leadership Award
Winners:
Bell
Read Award Description
In the Texas Panhandle, the Harrington name is synonymous with philanthropy. Mrs. Sybil Buckingham Harrington was a generous, loving, volunteer, civic leader and philanthropist who was a longtime supporter of United Way of Amarillo & Canyon. Individual leadership giving ($1,000 or more per year) represents approximately one quarter of the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon campaign. Because of her dedication to our leadership program, the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon leadership society and leadership award both honor the Sybil B. Harrington name. The Sybil B. Harrington Leadership Award is given to the company that has the highest percentage increase in employee leadership givers over the previous year’s campaign. Bell had 232 leadership donors for 2017 which was an increase of 100 donors compared to the 2016 campaign.

2-1-1 Texas
Needs:
Electric Service Payment Assistance – 2949 (8%)
Rent Payment Assistance – 1766 (4.78%)
Food Pantries – 1676 (4.53%)
Disaster Food Stamps – 683 (1.84%)
Gas Service Payment Assistance – 629 (1.70%)
Water Service Payment Assistance – 505 (1.36%)
Low Income/Subsidized Private Rental Housing – 458 (1.23%)
FEMA Disaster Assistance Online/Tele-Registration – 415 (1.12%)
Gas Money – 390 (1.05%)
Prescription Expense Assistance – 389 (1.05%)
Other Needs – 9948 (26.93%)
About:
United Way of Amarillo & Canyon provides comprehensive information and referral services to individuals and agencies in the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle through the 2-1-1 Texas Information & Referral Network. Calls are answered by friendly, trained specialists with a database of community services at their fingertips. All information and referrals are free, confidential and aimed at connecting those who need help with the most appropriate resources available.
Presenting Needs
Total Calls
Referrals
Success Story
When Rachel lost her job, she was afraid she would no longer be able to afford child care. Watch the video to learn about the programs we fund in Income.
Financials


Success Story
Kim* didn’t know she and her three children could leave an abusive relationship after 15 years. Watch the video to learn about the programs we fund in Basic Needs.
*Survivor’s name has been changed for her protection.