The Hope Lions Club heard a program on the Hempstead County United Way on Monday (9-28). Gina Perkins and Shelley Short brought the program.
Perkins is the Executive Director and Short is the Gala Chairperson and also a board member. Perkins noted United Way began in Hempstead County in 1959. The funds raise that are distributed to 11 local non-profits. These include Hope In Action #1 and 2, Hempstead County 4-H, Jr. Auxiliary of Hope, Hospice of Hope, the Senior Adult Center, Domestic Violence Prevention, The CALL, Harvest Regional Food Bank, the Charitable Christian Medical Clinic, First Choice Pregnancy Resource Center, and the Byrd House.
United Way locally has a private donor who pays the local dues to United Way worldwide, so all the money raised in Hempstead County stays right here in our community. Perkins noted only her $9,600 salary and a few administrative costs come out of the local money.
The local United Way budget is generally about $60,000 annually. $31,000 was from the fund drive and a similar amount came from the United Way Gala. Perkins said all that started changing during COVID and that’s when the organization came up with the Gala. Perkins credited Shelley Short for the success of the gala.
Perkins said they would like to see some growth so they could add some new organizations to help.
Short noted the gala will be October 22nd and the Glenn Woodruff Memorial Golf Tournament will be October 23rd. Short told the Lions there were still some sponsorships available. The event will be at the Hope Country Club. There will be a live auction as well plus a live band.
Anyone who would like to learn more can contact Perkins, Short, or any other United Way board member.
