The United Way of Odessa held its annual campaign kickoff to officially begin this year’s fundraiser Thursday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Building on East Second Street.
Founded in 1951, the United Way of Odessa supports local programs that impact the lives of one in every three Odessans.
United Way of Odessa Executive Director Hank Herrick was excited to get this year’s funding campaign underway and thanked those who are participating.
This year’s goal for the United Way of Odessa is $1.4 million. Last year’s fundraiser campaign raised $1.2 million.
“The participation is wonderful,” Herrick said. “To think last year with the impact that COVID-19 and not being able to have businesses opened, we were able to raise $1.2 million. While we’re not out of the woods yet, I believe we can raise this $1.4 million because the more money we raise, the more we can help our community and I think our community is outstanding.”
Currently, United Way of Odessa partners with 20 local partner agencies and 29 programs providing services in health, education and self sufficiency.
The United Way also provides additional funding through venture grants for special projects and programs that benefit the area.
“Agencies apply for those sectors, impact areas of funding based on their program,” United Way of Odessa Assistant Director Christina Escobar said. “If it qualifies under education, they file for that amount of funding that is available. They’ll apply on an annual basis. They have to meet several prerequisites and then we set up sight visits to every one of those organizations and every program that they have because some of those agencies have multiple programs that we support.”
Each year during the fundraiser, United Way of Odessa staff and volunteers work hard to raise donations.
The United Way of Odessa’s goal is to enter places of business, both large and small, for profit or nonprofit and invite employees to give back to their local community.
Members of the community, including those from the Boys and Girls Club in Odessa, as well as Ector County ISD and Odessa College, were at the ceremony.
“When you have a hot day like today and you have many people come out from as many different organizations to support us and I think the community does a great job of supporting us,” Herrick said. “As I emphasized, let us in your business for 15 minutes; that’s all it takes for us to touch those hearts and get those contributions to reach that $1.4 million.”
The special guest speaker for this year’s kickoff celebration was Odessa College President Greg Williams.
“How do you make it through times like we’re going through where we have so much upheaval and distrust and medical issues and so much pain in our communities?” Williams asked the audience during the ceremony. “My suggestion is the United Way. That’s how we do it. We do it together.”
This year’s campaign chairman is Dewey Bryant, who also spoke to the audience after Williams.
“I can’t say enough that this is what it’s about,” Bryant said. “It’s about community. It’s about all of us focusing our time and coming together to make something happen for the community. These partner agencies are depending on you. They’re depending on us to help this goal. Let’s not let our community down. We have a challenge of reaching our goal. I cannot think of a better team that will exhaust all efforts to reach that goal.”
Bryant also spoke about reaching the target of $1.4 million.
“Your goal this year is to make $1.4 million,” Bryant said. “This is our goal and your goal and I thank those who are going to be a part of this great team. It’s a pleasure to work with them and I can’t thank you enough to be a part of it.”
He offered praise for those in the area who are helping out with raising funds.
“Leaders throughout your community are already working within their industries to help achieve the goals that we have in front of us,” Bryant said.
Herrick said the campaign will wrap up around the start of December.
“And then in March, once we figure out how much money we’ve raised, we’ll put an application on our website so that any nonprofit can apply for funding, and if they meet the prerequisites, the board will vote on funding,” Herrick said.
