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Former Scurry County United Way President Kellye Starnes (left) cut a retirement cake honoring Executive Secretary Peggy Vernon (right) during Tuesday’s Be A Hero campaign luncheon. Vernon retired this month after serving as executive secretary for eight years. -
Five Jack and Ann Smartt awards were presented during Scurry County United Way’s Be A Hero campaign luncheon. The awards go to an individual, couple or entity who exemplifies the qualities demonstrated by Jack Smartt. Recipients were (l-r) United Supermarket, represented by Jessie Edwards; Brenda Clem; Invenergy, LLC, represented by Eric and Jackie Roberson; and Richard and Debbie Dupree. Not pictured is Reagor-Dykes Auto Group. -
Scurry County United Way board members are (l-r) Jonathan Farmer, Sonya Vinson, Ben Boyd, Kellye Starnes, Belia Romero, Carl Burleson and Shirley Fritz. Not pictured are board members Kaitlin Ferguson, Starla Gonzales, Tammy Lucke, Barbara McGee and Ralph Ramon. -
Scurry County United Way awarded $79,260 to eight nonprofit organizations during Tuesday’s Be A Hero campaign luncheon. Pictured are (l-r) Buffalo Trails Boy Scouts representative David Chapman, Scurry County Food Cupboard representative Sonny Greenfield, Cancer Services Network representative Nancy Tyler, Snyder Volunteer Fire Department representative Ben Poe, West Texas Children’s Advocacy Center representative Kelsey Zimmerman, Snyder Day Care representative Janell Roden, Gateway Family Services represe
Celebrations were in order Tuesday as the Scurry County United Way handed out the first $100,000 in allocations from money raised during United Way’s 2017-18 Be A Hero fundraising campaign, which raised more than $120,000 overall.
“Today is a day of celebration,” said 2017 United Way President Kellye Starnes as part of the presentations. “In September, I stood here, asking each of you to be a superhero. As we have reached the end of the 2017 campaign, we are here to celebrate. You put on a cape and maybe even a mask and became that superhero by donating to United Way, and we thank you.”
Starnes then recognized individuals and entities who donated more than $2,000 to the Be A Hero campaign. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Western Texas College, Snyder Independent School District, Ira Independent School District, First Bank and Trust, Oncor, Snyder Daily News and Edward and Sonya Vinson.
Agencies who received the bulk of their allocations from the campaign were Snyder Day Care, $32,600; Gateway Family Services, $20,800; West Texas Children’s Advocacy Center, $5,800; Buffalo Trails Boy Scouts, $4,600; Texas Oklahoma Plains Girl Scouts, $4,600; Cancer Services Network, $4,180; Scurry County Food Cupboard, $4,180; and Snyder Volunteer Fire Department, $2,500.
The balance of their allocations will be presented in the fall after the pledges have been collected.
Following check presentations, five groups were presented with Jack and Ann Smartt Awards.
“Yearly, we are able to present Jack and Ann Smartt awards to an individual, couple or entity who exemplifies the qualities demonstrated by Mr. Jack Smartt,” Starnes said. “Jack Smartt loved Snyder and was very involved in the community. These awards are intended to remember his involvement in and willingness to serve his community. Over the years, we have recognized many deserving individuals, and today we are blessed to be able to do the same.”
Brenda Clem, who Starnes said has previously served on the United Way board, designed programs and volunteered her time, talents and organizational abilities to serve the community.
Reagor-Dykes Auto Group received the award after contributing $5,000 to the campaign during September’s kick-off luncheon. Reagor-Dykes employees raised an additional $3,722 for the campaign.
Richard and Debbie Dupree were recognized for their anonymous donations to United Way. They had never been publicly recognized until Tuesday’s luncheon.
Invenergy, LLC, also received a Jack and Ann Smartt award for its $3,000 donation to the campaign.
The final Jack and Ann Smartt Award recipient was United Supermarkets, which donated $10,575. Snyder’s United Supermarket employees donated an additional $3,991.
To close out the program, the United Way board recognized Executive Secretary Peggy Vernon, who will retire at the end of this month. Vernon served as executive secretary for eight years, but has worked with United Way for more than 20 years. It was announced during the luncheon that Sheila Hale will replace Vernon.
Overall, the campaign and luncheon were a success, according to incoming board President Jonathan Farmer.
“As far as the campaign is concerned, I’m super excited that we met our campaign goal of $120,000,” Farmer said. “It was great celebrating the campaign and celebrating Peggy for her more than a decade of service.”