“Back to Old School” was the theme at this year’s annual Kickoff to the 2023 Community Campaign on September 7. This is United Way’s 100th annual campaign, supporting 100 years of being there for the community.

Chairs for the 2023 campaign, Bill and Cindy Lester, supported by Ameritas, announced the goal of raising $6.6 million in order to support over 100 vital programs at 64 local health and human services agencies giving every individual and family the opportunity to thrive.

“The dollars are important,” said Bill Lester, president and CEO of Ameritas. “But the real goal is what the agencies can do with the dollars.”

Keynote speaker, DeMoine Adams, CEO of TeamMates Mentoring Program, one of United Way’s partner agencies, called for a return to old school values such as being there for each other, community teamwork in order to help everyone win, and never giving up on the dream to help everyone thrive.

“Team work makes the dream work,” Adams said. “United Way has a dream for our community, but they can’t make that dream come true without everyone pitching in and helping out.”

The following day, nearly 170 community members put those old school values into action by volunteering at 18 locations across the community on United Way’s Day of Caring, presented by Black Hills Energy. Participants painted, cleaned, landscaped, prepared materials for programs and special events, and read to students.