We fight for the Health, Education and Financial Stability of every person in our community.

United Way’s 2016 Annual Report

Amarillo & Canyon

Get our latest financials, see how the team members put in tremendous and memorable efforts and see our mission in action.

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We fight for the Health, Education and Financial Stability of every person in our community.

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.

A Letter From The President

A Letter from Your President

Mike Good, Board President of United Way in
Amarillo and Canyon.

A young childcare worker in Canyon. A father struggling to make ends meet in Amarillo. An aspiring student in your neighborhood. Each of these people deserves the opportunity to achieve their dreams and support their family. At United Way of Amarillo & Canyon, more than 93 years of experience teaches us that community-wide solutions offer the best chance of helping them succeed. That’s why we are fighting harder than ever for the education, health, and financial stability of every person in our area.

United Way goes beyond single-issue solutions and temporary fixes. Our investment in the community is broad; we provide support for low-cost child care so parents can work, afterschool care with academic support, health programs for seniors, mental health counseling, safety net services, and much more.

We work to address the systemic challenges that undermine opportunity for all, by mobilizing the best resources and forging unlikely partnerships. Through this network of partnerships, our volunteers can expeditiously assess where our money or influence should go. These relationships enhance our ability to put our resources where they will make the biggest impact- a little, plus a little, plus a little, is a lot.

In 2016, more than eleven thousand donors invested in the lives of over seventy four thousand individuals in Potter and Randall Counties. I am humbled to have served as Board President for an organization who sees first-hand the generosity of individuals and businesses in our area.

Excellence requires sacrifice, and I thank you for sacrificing your money, time and talents to support your neighbors through the United Way. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED. To all our partners, donors and volunteers, thank you for everything you do. We couldn’t do it without you and your dedication to our mission.

Our Team

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Board OF DIRECTORS

Leadership DONORS

Council Members

Loaned Executives

Youth Leadership

Board of Directors
2016-2017

Executive Board

Mike Good, President
David Hemphill, Treasurer
Jim Bryan, Vice-President Financial Accountability
Paul Harpole
Michael Hooten, Ed.D., Vice-President of Community Services/GSRC
Aaron Howerton, Vice-President Community Impact
David Hudson, Vice-President Campaign
Shannon Massey, Vice-President Campaign
Michelle Reichert, Vice-President Campaign

Governing Board

W. Ashley Allen
Louise Anderson
Carolyn A. Balzar
Mary Coyne
Randy Criswell
Smith Ellis
Darryl Flusche
Marvin Franz
Dean Frigo
Julie L. Hulsey CLU
Bowden E. Jones, Jr.
Steven S. Jones
Russell Lowery-Hart, Ph.D.
John Luciano
Brent A. McClure
Antonio Mora
Joe Morris
Monica A. Musick
Teresa Prock
Ernesto Sanchez
Betty Solis

Management Staff

Katie Noffsker, Executive Director
Susan Barros, Sr. Director, Community Impact
Jeff Gulde, Sr. Director, Finance
Honnah Taylor, Marketing and Communication Director
Jeff Whitsell, Sr. Director, Resource Development Director

Leadership Donors

VIEW LEADERSHIP

Council Members

VIEW COUNCIL MEMBERS

Loaned
Executives

VIEW LOANED EXECUTIVES

Name Company
Steve Abrahamson Xcel Energy
Kim Banner City of Canyon
Sarah Barnes Bell Helicopter
Nathan Barrett Xcel Energy
David Branscum TootN’Totum
Chris Cantwell CNS Pantex
Bryan Chaffin First United Bank
Tracy Cooper ASARCO
Christina Cox-Leisinger WTAMU
Nicole Eminger CNS Pantex
Chris Forbis Randall County Sherriff’s Office
Matthew Gammon Xcel Energy
Jackie Gavlik TTUHSC
Lance Green FirstBank Southwest
Lewis Hassler Atmos Energy
Kyle Haymes Bell Helicopter
Rodney Hess ASARCO
Brent Hoover Amarillo Independent School District
Sara Hudson ANB
Storm Hughes Street Toyota
Rick Keller Texas Dodge/AutoInc
Jeremy King United Supermarkets
Lisa Kirkwood Happy State Bank
Casey Lane Bell Helicopter
Bonnie Lasher FirstBank Southwest
Glenn Lavender City of Amarillo
Pam Madden Amarillo College
Gail Malacara FirstBank Southwest
Billy May The English Rose
Mark Mechenbier Xcel Energy
Name Company
Victoria Medley City of Amarillo
David Meraz Street Volkswagen
Katy Parrish Suddenlink
Tyler Perdue United Supermarkets
Perry Perkins BSA
Joseph Peterson Edward Jones
Geoff Phemister Happy State Bank
Sherry Philyaw CNS Pantex
Terry Price Xcel Energy
Damen Ratliff City of Amarillo
Matt Ray ANB
Megan Reed CNS Pantex
Adam Schaer W Silver Recycling
Justin Schenk Bell Helicopter
Sheila Seymore City of Canyon
John Simikian AutoInc Tri-State Ford
Sherry Spells-Washington TDCJ
Reaghan Stevens FirstCapital Bank
Darin Stollings NCW
Jodie Striley RPC CPAs + Consultants, LLP
Michael Sugden Amarillo College
Charles Thomas CNS Pantex
Jenna Tyler Bell Helicopter
Blake Urton Johnson & Sheldon
Elexi Vasquez Street Volkswagen
Chris Villegas Street Toyota
Ronnie Walker Xcel Energy
Jason West Herring Bank
Courtney White UWAC
Jarred Williams FirstBank Southwest

Youth Leadership

The 2016-2017 Youth Leadership Cabinet (YLC) is comprised of more than 80 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. The funds raised through the Youth Campaign are donated entirely by students from grades K-12 at campuses all across our community. As members of the Youth Cabinet, the students allocate this money to United Way of Amarillo & Canyon’s partner agencies.

This year, 14 applications from 12 agencies were submitted to request project-specific funding. YLC students conducted program site visits, evaluated applications, and made funding decisions for the money raised. At a press conference in May, 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.

VIEW YOUTH ALLOCATIONS

Agencies Amount Allocated
 ARAD $2,500.00
Adult Literacy $2,834.50
Area Agency on Aging -Food Net $2,500.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters $2,500.00
Boy Scouts $2,650.00
Catholic Charities Inner Faith Hunger Project $2,988.00
Epilepsy- Art Program $2,500.00
Epilepsy Summer Camp $2,500.00
Girls Scouts $2,650.00
Junior Achievement $2,500.00
Salvation Army $3,000.50
Texas Tech-Reach Out & Read $2,500.00
Wesely Senior Citizen Program $2,500.00
Wesley -Behind the Scenes $2,834.57
Total $36,957.57

Day of Caring

On Friday, April 22, 2016, 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!

 

IMPACT

Agencies
Volunteers
Projects
Hours
$ Value Saved

Our Mission in Action

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Corporate leadership Donors

Allocations

Victory Gala

2-1-1 Texas

Youth Development

Financials

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.

Corporate Leadership Donors

250k-499,999

Ordre d’Indépendance

Xcel Energy

100k-249,999

La Société Nationale

Amarillo National Bank

50k-99,999

Ordre de Fraternité

CNS Pantex Plant
United Supermarkets, LLC, District Office

25k-49,999

Ordre de Liberté

Atmos Energy Corporation
AutoInc
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Budweiser Distributing Co.
Valero Services, Inc. – Amarillo
Zachry Group

10k-24,999

Membres de la Société

Affiliated Foods, Inc.
Amarillo Business Foundation
Amarillo Gear Company
Atmos Energy Customer Support Shared Services
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Caviness Beef Packers
Duke Electric Company, Inc.
First United Bank
FirstBank Southwest
Happy State Bank
NuStar Energy
Panhandle Unions
Toot’n Totum – Vehicle Give-Away

7,500-9,999

Platinum

FirstCapital Bank of Texas
Nationwide Insurance
Owens Corning
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

5,000-7,499

Gold

Amarillo Globe-News
AT&T, Inc.
BNSF Railway Company
Duncan & Boyd Jewelers
Missouri Valley, Inc.
Progress Rail Car Services
The English Rose
Walmart Stores
Wells Fargo
WNL/VALIC

2,500-4,999

Silver

Amarillo Floor Company
BHP Billiton Petroleum (New Ventures) Corporation
Border States Electric
Cenex Harvest States (CHS)
Cummins Southern Plains, Inc.
Eaton Crouse-Hinds
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Herring Bank
Insurance Professionals
Savage Refinery & Power Solutions
Street Toyota
United Parcel Service

2,499-1,000

Bronze

Access Community Credit Union
ACE Group (Chubb)
AimBank
Amarillo Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery LLC
American Equipment & Trailer, Inc.
Betenbough Homes
Bruckner Truck Sales, Inc.
Cargill Animal Nutrition (Southwest Division)
Choice Media
Connor, McMillon, Mitchell, Shennum, PLLC
Dillard’s Department Store
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.
Graham Brothers Jewelers
IAM&AW Machinist
Johnson & Sheldon, PLLC/ProPay
Mullin Hoard & Brown, L.L.P.
ONEOK Westex Transmission
Target Corporation #221
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Whataburger
Whitney Russell Printers

Allocations 2016-2017

Education FY 16-17 Funding
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Community Based Mentoring Program $52,000.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sports Buddies Program $10,000.00
Boys & Girls Club, Academic Success $83,000.00
Boys & Girls Club/Canyon After School Program $100,000.00
Boys & Girls Club, Triple Play $96,000.00
Boy Scouts, Golden Spread Council, Cub Scouts $62,000.00
Boy Scouts, Golden Spread Council, Scoutreach $147,000.00
Boy Scouts, Golden Spread Council, Venturing/COPE Program $36,000.00
Buckner Children & Family Services, Transition Center $20,000.00
Family Support Services, Education Programs $93,000.00
Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Girls at School $133,903.00
Junior Achievement of the High Plains, Junior Achievement $30,000.00
Wesley Community Center, Behind the Scenes Modeling Program $24,000.00
Wesley Community Center, Wesley Wrestling Club $15,000.00
Total Education Allocations $901,903.00
Income FY 16-17 Funding
Amarillo Adult Literacy Council, Adult Literacy $26,500.00
Children’s Learning Centers of Amarillo, Low Income Child Care $280,000.00
Family Support Services, Veteran Resource Center $26,000.00
Goodwill of Northwest Texas, Job Training/Placement $150,000.00
Total Income Allocations $482,500.00
Health FY 16-17 Funding
Amarillo Recovery from Alcohol & Drugs, Drug & Alcohol Recovery $35,000.00
Epilepsy Foundation West Texas, Epilepsy Clinic $7,000.00
Family Support Services, Counseling $87,524.00
Jan Werner Adult Day Care Center, Adult Day Care Program $95,000.00
Wesley Community Center, Senior Citizen Program $13,000.00
Salvation Army Case Management $11,000.00
TTUHSC – Nurse Family Partnership $10,000.00
Total Health Allocations $258,524.00
Basic Needs FY 16-17 Funding
American Red Cross, TX Panhandle, Disaster Services $50,000.00
American Red Cross, TX Panhandle, Services to Armed Forces $10,000.00
Catholic Charities of the TX Panhandle, InterFaith Hunger Project $80,000.00
Family Support Services, Crisis Services/Family Violence $40,000.00
Family Support Services, Crisis Services/Sexual Assault $30,000.00
PRPC/Area Agency on Aging, FoodNet $110,000.00
The Salvation Army, Emergency Shelter Operations $90,000.00
The Salvation Army, Emergency Financial Services $70,900.00
Total Basic Needs Allocations $480,900.00

Growing Greatness

$160,000

Allocated Total

$2,283,827

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.

Victory Gala
March 11, 2017

This elegant event celebrated the accomplishments of donors and volunteers from the 2015-2016 annual fundraising campaign. The following awards were presented:

50 Plus Certificate

This award is given to all companies that had a total giving of 50% or more over the previous year’s campaign.
AimBank
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Atmos Energy Customer Support
AutoNation Chevrolet
Boys & Girls Clubs of Amarillo
Bushland ISD Students
Eaton Crouse-Hinds
IBM Corporation
Insurance Professionals
Junior Achievement
Panhandle Unions

Newcomer Award

Savage Services

This award is given to the company that exemplifies the United Way spirit by conducting the most successful new workplace campaign.

Savage Services employees raised $5,400.20 for the 2016-2017 United Way of Amarillo & Canyon campaign; the average gift per employee was $675.03.

Spirit of the High Plains Award

Eaton Crouse-Hinds

This award is given to a company that has 50 or more employees and is committed to our mission by the number of employee donors, average employee gift, total amount raised and percentage increase over their previous year’s campaign.

Eaton Crouse-Hinds had a 110% increase in employee participation. Their average gift was $327.50 and their total campaign including a corporate match was $18,012.40, which was an increase of 183.45% over the 2015 campaign.

Summit Award

Insurance Professionals

This award is given to a company with fewer than 50 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.

Insurance Professionals had a 100% employee participation rate, their average gift was $604.50 and their total campaign including a corporate gift was $3,040, which was an increase of 295.83% over the 2015 campaign.

Sybil B. Harrington Leadership Award

Pantex

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. Because of her dedication to our leadership program (which makes up approximately one quarter of our campaign), 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.

Pantex had 265 leadership donors for 2016 which was an increase of 55 compared to the 2015 campaign.

Exceptional Achievment Award

AimBank

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.

AimBank had 100% employee participation in the 2016 campaign for a total of $5,836 and an increase of 483.60% over their 2015 campaign.

Team Leader of the Year

Ronnie Walker
Xcel Energy

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.

Assistant Team Leader of the Year

Sherry Philyaw
Pantex

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.

Loaned Executive of the Year

Mark Mechenbier
Xcel Energy

This award is given to the loaned executive that demonstrates excellence and commitment to our 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.

Excellence in Community Impact

Matthew Smith
Happy State Bank

Matthew Smith is Vice President of e-lending at Happy State Bank and this year’s winner of the Excellence in Community Impact Award.  Joining the Community Impact and Investment Education Council in 2015, Matthew was so engaged by the work of the United Way community partners and the oversight council that he soon accepted the responsibility of also serving on the Income Impact Council. Matthew subsequently accepted the co-chairmanship of the Income Council.

A busy family man with young children and active full schedules, Matthew manages an impressive attendance and participation record, giving back to the community through the donation of his time and his talents. Matthew contributes a high level of active participation in evaluating, vetting, reviewing, monitoring, and supporting the program proposals and partner agencies receiving Community Investment funding. Over the past 15 months, Matthew has attended 27 community impact and site visit meetings across the two councils. This is a stellar and appreciated commitment. Matthew has also recruited three excellent council members during his service to the Councils. His participation, enthusiasm, commitment, and leadership have been exemplary.

Matthew, this is the first ever Excellence in Community Impact Award. Thank you for setting a high bar!

Excellence in Community Outreach

Rodney Hess
ASARCO

Rodney Hess is employed at ASARCO and is this year’s winner of the Excellence in Community Outreach Award.  It has been said that if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are a leader. Rodney Hess has full heartedly served the United Way since 1999, and exemplifies the actions of a leader in this community.

Rodney has participated in many fundraisers, volunteer projects, and campaigns; however his crowning achievement comes in the form of the United Way Youth Cabinet. In 2006, Rodney Hess took charge of the Youth Cabinet and the results have been spectacular. Not only does participation continue to rise, but the money brought in by the students at schools is an impressive amount and often more than some employee campaigns bring in. Through this program, students from Amarillo, Bushland, Canyon, Highland Park, and River Road have all gained knowledge about how other people live, the programs available to citizens in and around the community, and how to give back in an effective manner. They have formed friendships, gained insight, and discovered that they too can make a difference in their community.

Rodney has also served as a reliable mentor for many of the students involved; doing everything from personally visiting student-organized events, to offering advice or a helping hand. Every year these young people learn more, do more, and dream more than they ever have before. They are able to accomplish all of this because they have great leaders, like Rodney Hess, to lead the way.

Rodney, this is the first ever Excellence in Community Outreach Award. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to this organization and your community!

Volunteer of the Year

Charles Thomas
Pantex

Charles Thomas has been a United Way of Amarillo & Canyon campaign volunteer since 2013 and has been a Leadership Giver since 2010. He has served as both a Loaned Executive and as the Union Liaison Chair. Charles always follows through with his promises and this year he promised that he would gain stronger local union support for United Way. He successfully fought and kept fighting for every donation, he volunteered countless hours of his time toward union meetings and follow-ups in addition to his other assigned United Way workplace campaign accounts. Charles was successful in not only maintaining union support but adding support from three unions with no previous United Way giving history. He was the last loaned executive to turn in a donation before Christmas break and then turned in another union donation in January. Additionally, Charles was the voice of United Way of Amarillo & Canyon to the unionized workers at Pantex during and after the strike of 2015. His willingness to educate union workers about the United Way mission was instrumental in the successful 2016 Pantex employee campaign.

Charles increased union giving by $6,250 vs. 2015. All total, the accounts that Charles worked saw an increase of $7,964 vs. 2015 and he worked more accounts than any other loaned executive. Charles has remained very involved in the community over the years, including organizing food and turkey drives, leading Cub Scouts and presenting as a skilled trade presenter for Los Barrios de Amarillo.

President’s Significant Achievement Award

David Hemphill
Sonic

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 has served as UWAC Board Treasurer from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2017. David is competent, faithful, and dedicated, and has a high level of business acumen. As an active member of the Guyon Saunders Resource Center Board of Directors, David has been an asset in the financial and building plans for the GSRC organization.

David is very thorough in the world of business administration. Financial statements and audits do not scare him. He is definitely a numbers person, and has been an outstanding addition to the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon Board of Directors, and the Guyon Saunders Resource Center Board of Directors. David has the best interest of the community at heart. David’s investment in volunteering produces many beneficial outcomes for the programs funded by United Way of Amarillo & Canyon. Thank you, David, for truly living UNITED.

2-1-1 Texas

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.

 

TOTAL CALLS
PRESENTING NEEDS
REFERRALS

79107 Community
Youth Development

Community Youth Development (CYD) is a juvenile delinquency prevention program targeted to youth in neighborhoods within the 79107 zip code. Beginning in 1996 and funded by the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services, Amarillo’s program was among the first eleven zip codes targeted statewide by the CYD program. Targeting is a measure of the high rate of violent juvenile crime and delinquency in a zip code area.

The Amarillo 79107 program has exceeded expectations and in 2016, not one youth in the program became involved with the juvenile justice system. CYD is an example of community impact and the return on taxpayer and donor investments. CYD as prevention has been phenomenally successful and provided cost savings to taxpayers potentially in the millions of dollars. Keeping kids out of the juvenile justice system and on track toward productive lives as parents, neighbors, and citizens: PRICELESS.
CYD-funded programs are provided at no cost to youth participants who are residents of, or attend a school in the 79107 ZIP Code.

CYD Provider Agencies:
Amarillo College, Big Brothers Big Sisters,
Family Support Services and Lone Star Ballet

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.

Thank you for your support.