The United Way of the Pennyrile received $800,292 in donations and pledges, smashing its goal of $715,000 for the 2025-26 campaign to raise money that supports 16 agencies, such as Aaron McNeil House, the Christian County Literacy Council and the Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville-Christian County.
Campaign officials announced the total during an awards ceremony Tuesday night.
Special recognition was given for Sue Badgett and the Brown Badgett Foundation for a $75,000 contribution.
“With this gift, the Brown Badgett Foundation has become the largest single donor in our campaign’s history,” Abigail Landrum said during the ceremony at the Silo Event Center.
Landrum and Bri Smith were co-chairs for the campaign, which had “Give Unlimited Possibilities” as its Barbie-inspired theme. United Way’s executive director is Melanie Noffsinger. The board chair is Martha Steil.
The People Helping People Awards presented to local employee groups giving at a high level were:
- Overall Winner — H&R Agri-Power, $84,105 (employee giving and fundraising was matched by owner Wayne Hunt and the Hunt Family Foundation)
- Large Firm — City of Hopkinsville, $75,863
- Medium Firm — Hopkinsville Electric System, $36,921
- Small Firm — Atmos Energy, $9,393
Regional Impact Awards:
- Todd County — Pennyrile Electric
- Trigg County — Wabash
Individual honorees included Lynn Major, of Hopkinsville Family YMCA, who received the Beverly Whitfield Award, and Lana Bastin, past board chair for United Way, who received the J. William Flowers Award.
Organizations that had 100% participation in campaign giving were:
- Aaron McNeil House
- Armed Services YMCA
- Atmos Energy
- Baird Private Wealth Management
- Bastin Optometric Clinic
- Christian County Chamber of Commerce
- Christian County Emergency Management
- Christian County Literacy Council
- Dyslexia Association of the Pennyrile
- Hopkinsville Electric System
- Pennyrile Children’s Advocacy Center
- The Salvation Army- Hopkinsville
- Sanctuary, Inc
- South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council
- Trace Industries
- University Heights Academy
The Top 10 donors were:
- H&R Agri-Power — $84,105
- City of Hopkinsville — $75,863
- Pennyrile Electric — $56,126
- Hopkinsville Water Environmental Authority — $47,500
- Hopkinsville Electric System — $36,921.63
- Planters Bank — $36,907
- Krusteaz — $26,655
- Jennie Stuart Health — $16,570
- Riken Elastomers & Americas —$14,729
- Siemer Milling — $13,297.32
The following division awards were presented. This list includes division chairs, special recognition and totals raised.
Latham Society (Lee and Meagan Conrad, co-chairs)
- Total: $379,250 with 453 Latham Society donors
Commercial (Josh Ryan)
- Spirit Award to Christian County Chamber of Commerce with an 81.1% increase
- Chairman’s Award to Planters Bank with $36,907, which was also a 4.6% increase
- from last year
- Total: $177,279
Education (Will Owen)
- Spirit Award to University Heights Academy, a 385.2% increase over last year with $1,473 raised
- Chairman’s Award to Hopkinsville Community College with $4,134 raised
- Total: $22,032
Government (Leslie Sowell)
- Spirit Award to Community and Development Services with a 22.8% increase
- Chairman’s Award to the Hopkinsville Fire Department with $59,362.40 raised, a 13.4% increase
- Total: $140,362
Industrial (Martha Steil)
- Spirit Award to Atmos Energy with a 46.9% increase and $9,393 raised
- Chairman’s Award to Pennyrile Electric with $56,126 raised, which includes TVA & Cobank Match
- Total: $185,360
Professional (Nicole Cravens)
- Spirit Award to Hopkinsville Family YMCA with a 44.3% increase
- Chairman’s Award to Jennie Stuart Health with $16,570 raised
- Total: $158,962
Residential (Lana Bastin and Nancy Moore)
- 134 total donors
- Total: $112,575
