$150k goal for 2020 HCUW campaign

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  • Hopkins County United Way 2020 campaign chair Mike Horne addresses guests at the organization’s annual lead donor luncheon Wednesday at Sulphur Springs Country Club. Horne said this year’s campaign goal of $150,000 will be distributed to 19 nonprofit organizations that impact Hopkins County. Staff photo by Jillian Smith
    Hopkins County United Way 2020 campaign chair Mike Horne addresses guests at the organization’s annual lead donor luncheon Wednesday at Sulphur Springs Country Club. Horne said this year’s campaign goal of $150,000 will be distributed to 19 nonprofit organizations that impact Hopkins County. Staff photo by Jillian Smith
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Donor lunch highlights local organizations

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At the lead donor appreciation luncheon held at the Sulphur Springs Country Club Wednesday, Hopkins County United Way (HCUW) campaign chair Mike Horne told representatives of area businesses the goal this year is to raise $150,000, which is $15,000 less than the 2019 campaign. The goal was lowered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We live in a wonderful community. I have been very blessed where I haven’t needed these organizations personally, … but I’m glad they’re here. I’m glad they’re here to help the less fortunate people in our community, and there’s a lot of these organizations that help children,” Horne said.

One of the goals Horne mentioned in addressing the guests of HCUW is to educate people on what United Way does.

“We spend the money we have on the organizations. …This year [the funds] are going to 19 organizations,” Horne said.

To that end, HCUW has put together a video to highlight some of the organizations receiving donations and explain what they do with the funds. The video will be available on the group's Facebook page at a later date.

The 2020 campaign budget and allocation committee of Lezley Brown, Markeda Fisher, Charlotte Henderson, Horne, Beverley Owens and Bill Owens (this year’s board co-presidents and last year’s chairs) have chosen the nonprofit organizations and donation amounts that will go to each. They are:

• Boy Scouts of American, Circle Ten Council—$2,100

• Bright Star Baseball—$1,000

• CANHelp— $8,000

• East Texas Council on Alcohol/Drug Abuse—$2,000

• Heritage Christian Counseling Center—$8,000

• Hopkins County 4-H—$2,000

• Hopkins County Christian Alliance on behalf of Community Cupboard—$7,000

• Hopkins County Christian Alliance on behalf of Empty Stocking—$1,000

• Hopkins County Community Chest—$54,500

• Jehovah Jireh Food Pantry—$1,000

• Lake Country CASA—$9,000

• Lakes Regional Community Center on behalf of Our Place—$4,000

• Meal A Day of Sulphur Springs—$7,000

• Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center, Inc.—$3,500

• SAFE-T (Shelter Agencies for Families in East Texas)—$4,000

• Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center—$4,000

• Sulphur Springs Symphony League—$1,000

• Teen Court—$3,500

• The Dinner Bell—$3,000

• United Way Worldwide—$3,000

Administrative costs budgeted are $21,400.

“That’s what made me understand what United Way was,” Horne said of being on the allocations committee. “When you hear these organizations’ stories about how they use the money, where they go and how they help children. You hear stories about the food banks, about how much longer the lines get because of COVID hitting and people losing their jobs.”

For more information on, to schedule a presentation with or to donate to HCUW, visit the group’s Facebook page @hopkins countyunitedway, call 903- 243-4066 or email HCUW Executive Secretary Susan Berning at susanb.uway@ suddenlink.net.