The breakfast event, held earlier this morning at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, celebrated the dedication of the class of 2011 Campaign Ambassadors and their sponsoring companies.  The Campaign Ambassadors dedicated countless hours to the community to help companies facilitate internal campaigns and educate the public on the needs of the community and United Way’s impact work. 

Starting mid-August, the Campaign Ambassadors completed a comprehensive two-week training which honed in on community needs and United Way’s focused goal work in the areas of Education, Income and Health.   After graduating the training, each was assigned a set of companies to assist and guide in developing successful internal campaigns. 

“Our Campaign Ambassadors become advocates of United Way and are part of the positive change in our community,” said Carol Wheeler, campaign co-chair.  “It’s really amazing how a room-full of strangers become bonded into friendship and camaraderie.  We watch them grow professionally and develop an increased awareness of how the community pulls together through United Way to address its needs.  We are so proud of each of them.”

 ABOUT UNITED WAY

United Way of Greater Topeka has a refined focus on goals which start with root causes and outcomes to ultimately create a more vital, stable and livable community. We are changing the picture of how Topeka, Shawnee County and Jefferson County will look in five years, 10 years and beyond.

To create long-term sustainable change, we are focusing our efforts to make a big impact with measureable results. Success will be determined by progress made with community goals in the areas of Education, Income and Health. In additions to working in goal areas, United Way remains committed to Basic Needs. United Way is leveraging its resources by: Giving, Advocating and Volunteering to improve everyone’s quality of life.

 
2011 Campaign Ambassador & Companies

Patsy Congrove, State of Kansas, Department of Revenue

Michelle Davis, Sponsored by CoreFirst Bank and Trust

Ron Ediger, Westar Energy

Rocio Fernandez, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

Wendy George, Capitol Federal Savings

Jeremy Goodwin, WIBW Channels

Todd Han, Kansas Neurological Institute

Carla Hansen, Sponsored by Security Benefit

Shane Holland, Hallmark Cards

Cherie McGinnis, Stormont-Vail HealthCare

Todd Pettygrove, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

Sue Schuster, State of Kansas, Department on Aging

Haley Shelley, Sponsored by WIBW Channels

Kim Sims, Capitol Federal Savings

Jamie Stafford, Key Staffing

Cindy Warren, Kansas Gas Service

Breakfast Presenters:

• Miriam Krehbiel
  United Way president and CEO
• Jeff Beasley
  Vice President Corporate Compliance and Internal Audit, Westar Energy,
  2011 Campaign Chair
• Carol Wheeler
   Stormont Vail HealthCare,
  2011 Campaign Co-Chair
• Ron Ediger
  Westar Energy,
  2011 Campaign Ambassador, Campaign Ambassador class representative

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