Salina Area United Way Surpasses Campaign Goal for First Time In A Decade

For the first time in a decade, Salina Area United Way is very pleased to announce that they have surpassed their 2022-2023 Campaign fundraising goal, which brought in a grand total of $573,821.65 this past year to give back to nine local nonprofit organizations in the community and to the new childcare initiative.

Organizations who benefit from Salina Area United Way’s Campaign are 2022-2023 Funded Partners: Ashby House, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Salina, Boy Scouts of America Coronado Area Council, Central Kansas Mental Health Center, Child Advocacy & Parenting Services, Pawnee Mental Health Services, Prairieland Market, Salina Child Care Association, and Salina Family YMCA.

“This is the first time we have hit our goal in a very long time,” says Claire Ludes, Executive Director of Salina Area United Way. “It just goes to show the need the community has for United Way and the support that we provide to our Funded Partners and now childcare for our community! Great things are happening, and I am so excited to see the continued forward movement we as an organization have.”

This past year, Salina Area United Way achieved many new and exciting things throughout their fundraising year to continue in their mission of Strengthening Our Community. In September, United Way received matching funds for the first time ever at their Campaign Kick-off event. Thanks to a generous $25,000 donation by Richard and Sallie Morrison, donations at the event were matched, up to 50%, to make an even greater impact on the community and the 2022-2023 Funded Partners. Over $50,000 was raised at Campaign Kick-off, with a grant total of $75,000 including the matching funds. In December, Salina Area United Way’s big Christmas fundraising event, Dueling Pianos Christmas, raised a total of $30,000 throughout the night, which saw a $10,000 increase in dollars raised from the previous Dueling Pianos Christmas event in 2021. In April this year, Salina Area United Way announced the start and opening of the Early Childcare Initiative Fund at their organization to make strong and lasting steps towards combating childcare issues and shortages in Saline County. And in late June, United Way was awarded over $1.8 million from the Kansas Children’s Cabinet Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program to help create 187 new childcare slots in the Salina area.

“We are very excited about the momentum that our team has built for Salina Area United Way this past year,” says MacKenzie Morris, Director of Marketing at Salina Area United Way. “Our sights are on raising the bar even higher throughout the upcoming 2023-2024 Campaign, and we have a lot of great projects and things happening for the community in the near future that we can’t wait to share with everyone!”

For more information about Salina Area United Way and how you can give back to help Strengthen Our Community, visit www.unitedwaysalina.org, or contact the Salina Area United Way office at 785-827-1312.