The United Way of Greater St. Joseph held its annual meeting Thursday at Missouri Western to recap 2014 and welcome new board members.
Special award winners were announced:2014 Spirit of Community Award (honoring one exemplary business each year for outstanding community service and support of United Way)-First American Title Insurance Company;2014 Outstanding Partner Award (honoring one area business or organization each year that has shown an exceptional history of partnership with United Way)- Commerce Bank; and the 2014 Outstanding Volunteer Award (honoring exemplary volunteers each year for outstanding volunteer service through United Way)-Todd W. Meierhoffer.
The event officially released the 2014 United Way Annual Report and included the first official United Way Board meeting of the year.
Retiring United Way Board members: Katie Carolus, Todd W. Meierhoffer, Tom Richmond, Amy Ryan and Darren Steele.
People stepping down from Chair positions: Eric Bradley, 2014 Marketing Committee Chair; Katie Carolus, 2014 Community Investment Co-Chair; David Cripe, 2014 Profit In Education© Council Co-Chair Chair; Cindy Crouse, 2014 Profit In Education© Council Co-Chair; Rick Gronniger, 2014 Success By 6® Partners Team Chair; Jason Horn, 2014 Finance Committee Chair; Todd W. Meierhoffer, 2014 Community Initiatives Chair; David Richmond, 2014 Leadership St. Joseph Steering Committee Chair; and Adam Stein, 2014 Campaign Chair.
The following Board members were elected for first or second terms at the meeting: Tom Burke, Ben Byrd, Elaine Coder, David Cripe, Ann Hoy, Michell Margulies, Roger Martin, Brad McAnally, Michael Pulido and Seth Wright .
2015 United Way Board officers elected at meeting: Roger Martin, Chair; David Cripe, Vice Chair; Tom Burke, Secretary; and Dennis Rosonke Treasurer.
This year’s Annual Meeting highlighted United Way’s progress over the past year. The 660 people who volunteered their time through United Way in 2014 were thanked. Special guests for the event included 29 Lafayette High School freshmen and Colgan Center students participating in United Way BEST (Business and Education Succeed Together), a program of United Way Profit In Education©.