The United Way of the Pennyrile achieved its goal and a bit more, raising $704,291 for the 2024-25 campaign, the organization announced Tuesday during the campaign celebration at the James E. Bruce Convention Center.
The campaign goal was $700,000, and the theme was “Shine Like the Stars.”
Speakers at the celebratory event included campaign chair Martha Steil, board chair Lana Bastin and the agency’s new executive director, Melanie Noffsinger.
The top overall givers to this year’s campaign were:
- City of Hopkinsville — $72,631
- H&R Agri-Power — $61,966
- Pennryile Electric — $50,733
- Jennie Stuart Health — $45,476
- Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority — $45,000
- Planters Bank — $35,276
- Hopkinsville Electric — $30,670
- Krusteaz — $24,020
- Riken Elastomers & Americas — $15,100
- Hopkinsville Milling — $10,779
Several awards were presented to volunteers and donors whose contributions were lauded. Those included:
- Beverly Whitfield Award — Presented to Donna Williams, founder of the Breaking Bread Community Dinner Church, which serves more than 300 people every Thursday afternoon from the Aaron McNeil House kitchen.
- J. William Flowers Award — Presented to Betsy Bond, retired executive director of the local United Way.
- People Helping People Awards — City of Hopkinsville (overall), H&R Agri-Power (large firm), Hopkinsville Electric (medium firm) and Fortera Credit Union (small firm)
- Regional Impact Awards — Pennyrile Electric (Todd County) and Bank of Cadiz (Trigg County)
Also, the following Division Award winners were announced:
- Commercial — H&R Agri-Power (chairman’s award), Walmart Distribution Center (spirit award)
- Education — Hopkinsville Community College (chairman’s award), Cumberland Hall (spirit award)
- Industrial — Pennyrile Electric (chairman’s award), Hopkinsville Electric (spirit award)
- Government — Hopkinsville Fire Department (chairman’s award), Hopkinsville Police Department (spirit award)
- Professional — Jennie Stuart Health (chairman’s award), Kem Wealth Management (spirit award)
Chairing the 2025-26 campaign will be Bri Smith and Abigail Landrum.
The United Way of the Pennyrile provides financial support to 18 agencies in Christian Todd and Trigg counties.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
