Breckenridge Texan

It was just six months ago that the United Fund of Breckenridge board members met in Foundation Park and accepted a donation from Paul Prater, kicking off the new fundraising campaign. Tuesday morning, several board members gathered again to celebrate the fact that they reached their goal of raising $17,000 for local organizations.

For the first time in several years, the organization raised 100 percent of their goal, and donations are still coming in, United Fund President Sherry Strickland said.

“We just want to give a big thank you to everybody who has donated in any way,” Strickland said. “We are very excited to have reached our goal…and so early in the campaign.”

After past campaigns didn’t meet the goals that had been set, this year the United Fund Board of Directors reevaluated the goal setting process and decided to lower the amount sought from the community, as well as the amount given to the organizations it supports.

This year, the United Fund will make donations to the following organizations:

• Breckenridge Girls Softball Association
• Girl Scouts
• Cub Scout Pack 81
• Boy Scout Troop 63
• Meals on Wheels
• Open Door
• Breckenridge Little League, Inc.
• School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)
• Breckenridge Fine Arts Center
• Stephens County Ag & Community Center
• Breckenridge Library
• Stephens County Humane Society
• Breckenridge Lil’ Kickers
• Swenson Memorial Museum
• Dr. Goodall’s House
• Stephens County Child Welfare Board
• Friends of Historic Breckenridge
• All His Children

Strickland said one of the things she wants the residents of Breckenridge to remember is that the United Fund is a local organization that supports other local groups; it is not affiliated with the United Way or any other national or international group. What that means, Strickland said, is that all of the money stays in Breckenridge.

Most of the donations go directly to the local organizations that request funds. The board members are all volunteers, so the only expenses are for basic supplies, she said.

Strickland said the board wants to give an extra thanks to First National Bank and Breckenridge Interbank for achieving contributions from 100 percent of their employees, as well as to United Supermarket, which had almost 100 percent participation.

The 2018-19 United Fund Board of Directors are: Sherry Strickland, President; Kevin Simmons, Treasurer; Whitney Fulgham, Secretary; Jean Hayworth, Campaign Chairman; and board members Sandy Broyles, Cassie Griffith, Scott Harris, Lynda Justus, Wayne Justus, Kathy O’Shields, Gary Trammel, Sharon Wimberley, Jeannie Gann, Les Strickland and Bo Asher.

Anyone who would like to make a donation the the United Fund of Breckenridge may mail a check to:  United Fund of Breckenridge, Inc., P.O. Box 170, Breckenridge, TX 76424.

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: United Fund board members, from left, Bo Asher, Wayne Justus, Jean Hayworth, Sandy Broyles, Sherry Strickland and Les Strickland, celebrate reaching 100 percent of their fundraising goal. The local organization raised $17,000 to be distributed among other groups. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)