“On a mission from God,” Blues Brothers reincarnates “Joliet” Jake and Elwood broke onto the scene early Thursday morning at the Christian County Senior Citizen’s Center — ready to lead the way for the 2023-24 United Way of the Pennyrile fundraising campaign.
Respectively, it’s Chris Jung and Cody Noffsinger at the helm — a pair of co-chairs whose significant others have helped the cause, but also, as Noffsinger pointed out, a pair of co-chairs who love the Pennyrile region.
With plenty of time remaining to tap into local and regional resources, Jung announced this year’s campaign has an achievable goal of $700,000.
It’s a total that was surpassed in last year’s gift giving and contributions, and something Jung said was attainable because of southwest Kentucky’s support and spirit.
As of Thursday morning’s breakfast, more than $216,000 has been earmarked in pace-setting efforts.
Tab Brockman, retiree chairing the Government division, said consistent top-10 provider HWEA is already up to $42,500, and the group as a whole is above $46,600.
Michelle Walden, heading up the Education division, said their private and public school campaigns have already begun, and a goal of $36,000 has potential.
In the Commercial division, chair Josh Ryan noted Planters Bank is above $36,800 — and increase from last year — and the division is north of $41,700 with a goal of $181,000 serving as a 15% jump from the 2022-23 finish.
Martha Argotte, serving the Industrial division, said a Pennyrile Electric/TVA match came in above $50,000, while HES has surpassed $22,000 and Hopkinsville Milling is well over $10,000. Combined, this umbrella has already collected nearly $89,000.
Nicole Cravens, head of the Professional division, said their total is approaching $10,000, while former mayor and campaign co-chair Dan Kemp said a good start from generous donors has the Residential division seeking a crest of $80,000.
Thursday celebration, of course, won’t be the last. Jung said a January 11, 2024, showing of the original Blues Brothers film, with SNL stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, is in the works at the Alhambra Theater. Furthermore, a February 20, 2024, awards and celebration finale is also planned at the Alhambra Theater, in which the final tallies and major awards will be announced.
Latham Society co-chairs this year are Elizabeth McCoy and Kelly Workman. Breakfast sponsors were Bank of Cadiz, Rogers Group, HES/EnergyNet, with the meal provided by Four Seasons. Jung said the Christian County Senior Citizen’s Center offers its comforts free of charge to the non-profit.
Serving Christian, Trigg, Todd and Caldwell counties, campaign funds are doled out to 18 partner agencies: Aaron McNeil House, Inc., American Red Cross, Armed Services YMCA, Boys And Girls Club of Hopkinsville-Christian County, Bright Life Farms, Inc., Christian County Literacy Council, Christian County Rescue Team, Christian County Youth Services Advisory Board, Dyslexia Association of the Pennyrile, Hopkinsville YMCA Pryme Tyme, Imagination Library, Kentucky Legal Aid, PACS/RSVP, PACS/Meals On Wheels, Pennyrile Children’s Advocacy Center, Sanctuary, Inc., St. Luke Free Clinic, The Salvation Army, and Trace Industries.
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