Board President
United Way of Amarillo & Canyon
A World-wide Pandemic made the past year very difficult for everyone in our community, our State, our Country, and the entire World. COVID was the topic you could not avoid hearing about. Many of us suffered from contracting COVID, many were hospitalized (my wife was in the hospital due to COVID for a week) and many lost their lives. I personally lost a family member and a customer who were overcome by the COVID virus.
COVID put a strain on people’s jobs, sources of income and on their mental health. Throughout this horrible time, the United Way was there helping people. Knowing that our community’s needs would be greater than ever with the loss of income by many businesses and people putting a huge strain on budgets. Our Amarillo-Canyon United Way staff and volunteers adapted to the challenges of COVID while ramping up the Campaign. United Way of Amarillo & Canyon didn’t pause. We adapted to the environment we were in, and our organization had to continue with enthusiasm during such a unique time.
The Campaign Kickoff was held at Hodgetown and we had a great turnout despite the cold weather. For our training of Loaned Executives and other Campaign volunteers, we adapted to the needs of social distancing and masks by conducting many aspects of the campaign via ZOOM. Below are some of the successes we had despite COVID.
Our recipient of the President’s Significant Award (yes, they were that good) was the staff at 211. Look at these statistics: in 2019 they received and processed 29,752 calls. In 2020, they received 65,518 calls (over 120% increase) and they handled this with utmost professionalism working many long hours and listening to difficult stories of hardship that people in our community were dealing with. They helped these people with services from our various United Way Partner Agencies and other local resources.
Our Youth Cabinet raised over $55,000!! This is the highest amount raised by the youth that I have ever seen! What an incredible job they did led by Steve Stockton, of United Supermarkets and fellow board member.
We launched the area’s first ever Virtual Telethon and Brent McClure, with NewsChannel 10, was Master of Ceremonies for the event. The Telethon was a great success raising over $20,000 for our Emergency Relief Fund that totaled $486,000.
Our Executive Director Katie Noffsker and her staff researched various programs for grants and raised over $1,196,088 from approved grants.
Our United Way Board meetings, although many were via Zoom, were very energetic and positive with many creative ideas from our Board. Many thanks to Pastor David Richie, lead pastor of Redeemer Christian Church and fellow board member, for starting our Board meetings with prayer asking for God’s blessing and guidance for our United Way.
I have been involved in United Way Campaigns for 37 years. It’s always a pleasure to meet new volunteers, attend rallies, meet business owners and spread the message of United Way. But with the Pandemic, we could not “High 5” our fellow volunteers hug people or meet with business owners as in the past, due to social distancing. Despite all these headwinds, WE RAISED OVER $3.3 Million on top of everything else during the worst of times with a global pandemic. This is attributed to our Campaign Co-Chairs Leslie Massey and Sgt. Cody Jones, as well as the hard-working United Way board, staff and the many volunteers who made it happen.
Jim Bryan, President
Dean Frigo, Treasurer
Steve Stockton, Secretary
Billy May, Vice President Community Impact
Cody Jones, Campaign Co-Chair, VP Governance
Leslie Massey, Campaign Co-Chair
Dane Williams, At Large
Jeremy Pepper, Second Vice President
Joseph Peterson, First Vice President
Judy Day, VP of Community Impact
Mary Coyne, VP of Marketing and Communications
Sherrie Padilla, VP of Nominating
David Hudson, Immediate Past President
Adam Schaer
Allen Hare
Amjad Abdullat
Andy Marshall
Belinda Gonzales Taylor
Bowden E. Jones, Jr.
Dr. Brad Johnson
Cecil Glovier
Dr. Darryl Flusche
David Bradley
David Ogle
David Ritchie
Doug Loomis
Ernesto Sanchez
John Luciano
Kevin Carter
Kyle Ingham
Megan Reed
Michael Gonzales
Mubashir Subhani
Patrick Miller
Patti McKnight
Dr. Russel Lowery-Hart
Sally Jennings
Dr. Brad Johnson
Kevin Carter
Steven Bowen
William Bailey
FIRST NAME |
LAST NAME |
COMPANY |
| Steven | Abrahamson | Xcel Energy |
| Brad | Baldridge | Xcel Energy |
| Stephanie | Brollier | Amarillo National Bank |
| Jennifer | Caporale | Street Toyota |
| RaLynda | Christie | Valero Services, Inc. – Amarillo |
| Paul | Deleon | Happy State Bank |
| Ryan | Escalon | Street Toyota |
| Annabelle | Estrada | Amarillo National Bank |
| Libby | Garcia | Amarillo National Bank |
| Jackie | Gavlik | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center |
| Jennifer | Gonzalez | City of Amarillo |
| Lisa | Greenhouse | Amarillo ISD |
| Randalyn | Huyck | Amarillo ISD |
| Stephen | Johnson | Community Volunteer |
| Kellie | Krahn | Amarillo ISD |
| Bonnie | Lasher | LE Co-Chair Community Volunteer |
| Adam | Leathers | United Way of Amarillo & Canyon |
| Jarrod | Madden | Amarillo College |
| Pamela | Madden | Amarillo College |
| Billy | May | LE Co-Chair English Rose Boutique |
| Kelly | McDonald | FirstBank Southwest |
| KC | McNatt | United Supermarkets |
| Celeste | Morales | AutoInc – Texas Dodge |
| Christopher | Morris | Happy State Bank |
| Perry | Perkins | LE Co-Chair BSA Health System |
| Joseph | Pugh | United Supermarkets |
| TJ | Reyna | CNS Pantex |
| Raul | Rodarte-Suto | United Way of Amarillo & Canyon |
| Adam | Schaer | KB Recycling |
| Michael | Schoenberg | City of Amarillo |
| Amy | Sellmeyer | Amarillo ISD |
| Brian | Shannon | AutoInc – Tri-State Ford & Amarillo Hyundai |
| Kelly | Simpson | Amarillo ISD |
| Matthew | Smiley | FirstCapital Bank of Texas |
| Karalee | Snyder | Xcel Energy |
| Sherry | Spells-Washington | TDCJ Clements Unit |
| Cynthia | Terry | Amarillo College |
| Charles | Thomas | CNS Pantex Plant |
| Marco | Valdez | Atmos Energy |
| Tyler | Vance | First United Bank |
| Ronni | Walker | Xcel Energy |
| Megan | Ward | West Texas A&M University |
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. YLC is comprised of about 85 students representing nine local high schools from five school districts.
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 YLC, along with numerous company and community volunteers, also host the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon’s annual Youth Day. The funds raised through the Youth Campaign are donated entirely by students from grades K-12 at campuses all across our community. During the 2020-21 year, student leadership partnered up with the United Way of Amarillo’s community impact allocation process to create a bigger impact for all programs in a year where many programs struggled. 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.
Youth Leadership Cabinet is excited to add $55,195.10 to the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon allocations for 2020.
Youth Leadership Cabinet Adult Volunteers:
Raul Rodarte-Suto
Julio Salazar
Steve Stockton
Youth Leadership Teacher Sponsors:
Janna Fink, Randall HS,
Kacie McDaniel, Palo Duro HS
Katy Fletcher, Bushland HS
Katye Barglsey, Amarillo HS
Linda Wilson, Caprock HS
Rachel Freeman, River Road HS
Rala Underwood, Highland Park HS
Tyler Pamplin, Tascosa HS
Kimberly Sharber, Canyon HS
Schools who participated in some way during the 2020 Youth Philanthropy Programs. Schools who raised funds through Virtual Youth Day, Youth Cabinet, or through C4C or independently:
High Schools:
Tascosa
Amarillo
Palo Duro
Caprock
Canyon
Randall
River Road
Highland Park
Bushland
Middle School:
Bowie
Horace Mann
Austin
Bonham
Crockett
Johnny N. Allen
Lorenzo de Zavala
River Road MS
Bushland MS
Elementary:
Whittier
Humphrey Highland
Park Hills
Ridgecrest
Avondale
Alice Landergin
Olsen Park
Sunrise
Coronado
Wolflin
South Lawn
Puckett
Oak Dale
Forest Hill
Pleasant Valley
Paramount Terrace
South Georgia
Lamar
San Jacinto
Lawndale
Will Rogers
Eastridge
Hamlet
Mesa Verde
Sleepy Hollow
Wills
Bivins
Carver EC
Woodlands
Tradewind
Travis 6th Grade
Bowie 6th Grade
The United Way Amarillo & Canyon established the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to provide direct aid to those affected. As the situation developed, it was clear the challenges this virus extended beyond just those infected and their loved ones, but to every citizen of Amarillo & Canyon who are living paycheck to paycheck. Given the social distancing required to combat the spread of the disease, individuals, most of whom were hourly wage earners in service industry jobs, would experience unprecedented economic hardship.
In response to this, the emergency relief fund was allocated to local 501c3 nonprofit agencies that directly impact the lives of individuals who experienced a lack of basic needs being met i.e., food, shelter, utilities, etc.
All donations to the funds were granted to community-based organizations that directly supported residents and families who were most affected by emerging health, economic, and social impacts.
Amarillo Wesley Community Center, Behind the Scenes Modeling Program – $19,332.00
Amarillo Wesley Community Center, Wesley Wrestling Club – $12,082.50
Boy Scouts, Golden Spread Council, Cub Scouts, Scoutreach, Venturing/COPE – $137,830.00
Buckner Children & Family Services, Transition Center – $16,110.00
Family Support Services, Education Programs – $77,775.00
Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Girls at School – $63,545.00
Maverick Boys & Girls Clubs, Academic Success – $329,400.00
Children’s Learning Centers of Amarillo, Low Income Child Care – $193,200.00
Family Support Services, Veterans Resource Center – $17,940.00
Goodwill of Northwest Texas, Job Training/Placement – $94,702.50
Amarillo Recovery from Alcohol & Drugs (a program of Cenikor), Drug & Alcohol Recovery – $32,220.00
Amarillo Wesley Community Center, Senior Citizen Program – $15,000.00
COHS – Nurse Family Partnership – $8,950.00
Family Support Services, Counseling – $77,865.00
Jan Werner Adult Day Care Center, Adult Day Care Program – $75,000.00
American Red Cross, TX Panhandle, Disaster Services – $45,750.00
Catholic Charities of the TX Panhandle, InterFaith Hunger Project – $100,286.54
Family Support Services, Crisis Services/Domestic Violence – $45,000.00
Family Support Services, Crisis Services/Sexual Assault – $35,000.00
Guyon Saunders Resource Center, Community Day Room – $15,000.00
PRPC/Area Agency on Aging, FoodNet – $100,286.54
The Salvation Army, Emergency Shelter Services – $75,263.00
2-1-1 Specific Aid – $68,176.00
Family Support Services, Teen Health Project – $58,500.00
Amarillo Independant School District, Padres Colabradores – $22,000.00
Living Intentionally Ministries – $69,325.44
*Funding separate from allocated dollars.
| Amarillo National Bank |
| Xcel Energy |
| CNS Pantex |
| United Supermarkets |
| Auto Inc |
| Caviness Beef Packers |
| Duke Electric Company, Inc. |
| Tyson Foods, Inc. |
| Valero Services, Inc. – Amarillo |
| Vanguard Charitable |
| Bradley Family Charitable Trust |
| Underwood Law Firm, P.C. |
| Zachry Group |
| Amarillo College |
| BNSF Railway Company |
| Cenex Harvest States |
| Dr. Kent Roberts & Ilene Roberts Balliett Trust |
| FirstBank Southwest |
| FirstCapital Bank of Texas |
| Leslie Massey Farmer’s Insurance Agency |
| Missouri Valley, Inc |
| Progress Rail Car Services |
| A & S General Contractors, Inc. |
| Access Community Credit Union |
| American Equipment & Trailer, Inc. |
| Bell |
| Business Services, LLC |
| Choice Media |
| Dekker/Perich/Sabatini |
| FMC Services, LLC |
| Furman Land Surveyors |
| Gaut Whittenburg Emerson Commercial Real Estate |
| Herring Bank |
| IAM & AW Machinist |
| Johnson & Sheldon, PLLC/ProPay |
| Mullin Hoard & Brown, L.L.P. |
| NewsChannel 10 Media KFDA |
| Teamsters Local Union No. 577 |
| Tex Mex Fence Supply, Inc. |
| Texas Cattle Feeders Association |
| TNT Properties, Inc. |
| West Texas Building & Construction Trades Council |
| Maynard Foundation |
Here are some awards to celebrate the accomplishments of donors and volunteers from our 2020/2021 fundraising campaign. We partnered with Sharpened Iron Studios to bring a virtual celebration. See the video below!
Whitney Russell Printing
Joseph Pugh, United Supermarkets
Tyson Foods, Inc.
RaLynda Christie, Valero Services
Adrian Deleon, United Supermarkets
Shannon Mullins, Atmos Energy
United Way Youth Cabinet
211 Texas Panhandle/United Way Staff
BSA Health System
Billy May, English Rose Boutique
Watch these videos about two programs that strive to create an environment where positive self-worth can be realized and seek to maximize both individual potential and community empowerment.
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. CYD-funded programs are provided at no cost to youth participants who are residents of, or attend a school in the 79107 ZIP Code.
The Amarillo 79107 program has exceeded expectations and in 2020, 99.7% of the youth in the program did not become 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.
