United Way of Story County Young Leaders Society Celebrates

United Way of Story County (UWSC) showed its appreciation to the Young Leaders Society (YLS) members by hosting a celebration event at Reiman Gardens last month. Approximately 30 members and their family members attended. Kristin Pates, campaign director at UWSC, expressed gratitude to the members who are 40 and younger and contributed between $250 and $999 to the 2012 LIVE UNITED campaign. UWSC created the YLS affinity group in 2011 and currently has 110 members. The group has year-round engagement opportunities including a separate kickoff, volunteer activities, as well as an appreciation event.

The YLS committee also planned a supply drive at the event for summer activities at Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI). Many crayons, paper, paint, stickers, glue and more were contributed.

“The gifts from the Young Leaders Society mean so much to LSI and the kids currently at LSI's Beloit Residential Treatment Center,” said LSI’s Director of Marketing Communications Amy Juhnke. “Each year we raise funds to help cover the cost of providing professional services to youth. But the kids work so hard to overcome the trauma they've experienced, and beyond therapy, skill building and other requirements in their day, they need the opportunity to just be a kid. The supplies for summer activities enable our kids to do just that. Thank you for making this summer brighter and helping kids succeed!”

UWSC is a strategic leader in building countywide partnerships to identify needs and to develop, support and evaluate effective human services for our diverse community.