NAUW Executive Team from left,
Gary Ashcraft/CEO of Nacogdoches United
Way, Beavers Past Chair, Travis Cotten,
Treasurer, Kinnie Reina, Chair, Joe Weaver,
Chair Elect, Caroline Garner, EVP.
Not Shown – Dr. Tim Bisping, Secretary to
the Board.
AT A GLANCE
WHAT:
Nacogdoches Area
United Way
commitment of Hallmark staffers catches on with
other Center and Shelby County businesses and
individuals.
“It’s important for people in Shelby County to
know the money raised there stays there,”
Ashcraft said. There is an administration fee
which goes to help with office expenses, setting up
direct payroll deposit for employees of participating
firms, marketing, mailings and other expenses.
“Ortega Cartwright at Hallmark has been
amazing to work with, unfortunately we’ve had
limited participation in the Center area outside of
Hallmark,” Ashcraft says.
That, in part, has been due to a lack of volunteers
in Shelby County who share the vision of giving
back the United Way.
“There are a lot of great things happening in
Shelby County with the potential for even more,”
he says. “But there’s still a lot of work to do with the
county, which in some reports ranks as one of top
five poorest counties in the state.”
Ashcraft says he would love to see a full-fledged
effort to develop a United Way drive in Shelby
County. And, he says, with committed volunteers,
that could happen with the beneficiaries being
deserving local nonprofit groups who can reinvest
those funds where needed.
As an example, mainly from funds raised by
Hallmark employees in Center, four organizations
received funding this past year to aid them in
fulfilling their missions, he says.
Nacogdoches United Way last year put funds
raised in Shelby County to work by providing
provided of $1,500 each to the following
organization:
•Fannie Booth Brown Memorial Library in
support of the tween summer reading program;
•Center Independent School District Meal
Recovery program to purchase food containers for
Meals on Wheels food program;
•Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Health
and Fitness Fair committee to provide additional
screenings at the 2020 Health and Fitness Fair;
•Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Shelby
County Family and Community Health committee
to provide food and supplies for the 4-H Food and
Nutrition project.
“The goal of the Nacogdoches United Way
here is to support lasting change with measurable
improvements for people in need within Shelby
County,” he says. Organizations can apply to
be considered to receive funding with the final
determination made based on available funds and
criteria set by United Way and the local board.
Contributing employees can designate which
organizations their donation goes to. While donors
can make one-time contributions, many opt to
contribute through a small sum each pay day by
payroll deductions offered through their employer
each payday.
“How it works is basically through pledge
cards passed out to employees who can commit to
contribute whatever they feel comfortable with,”
Ashcraft said.
Focusing efforts on the building blocks of a better
life – quality, education, good health, and financial
stability – United Way connects the experience,
expertise, and resources to advance the common
WHO:
Gary Lee Ashcraft,
President/CEO
WHERE:
1401 S. University Dr
Ste. D
PO BOX 930772
Nacogdoches,TX
75963
PHONE:
(936) 564-5869
WEBSITE:
unitedwaynac.com
FACEBOOK:
@unitedwaynac/
Business MATTERS | 2020 Spring Edition
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