Gentry United Way campaign to begin next month

GENTRY — The Gentry United Way is getting set to kick off a new campaign on Oct. 3, with Janie Parks as its new director. Gentry United Way has remained independent of the NWA United Way in an effort to keep the distribution of funds raised local and is dedicated to distributing funds to local agencies which meet the organization’s criteria for funding.

According to the Gentry United Way website, “Gentry United Way … conducts an annual fund-raising drive for the purpose of canvass- ing the Gentry area communities for contributions to support local non-profit organizations that meet the criteria established by the Gentry United Way Board of Directors. The area shall be given the opportunity to support the drive yearly, and funds raised will be distributed primarily in the Gentry School District area. The Board is charged with the responsibility of disbursing the funds collected.”

This past year, the organization has given money to pay for the new restrooms in the city park and to build trails at the new Flint Creek Nature Area in Gentry. And, the organization is offering startup funds for a new Boys & Girls Club in Gentry to provide an after-school program for elementary-school children.

To receive funding from the Gentry United Way, services must be offered to residents living within the Gentry School District, so funds given to the Gentry United Way will not be sent off to larger organizations which provide no services to the Gentry area. And many local organizations in Gentry and the surrounding area are dependent upon the local United Way for their support each year.

Some organizations supported by Gentry United Way funds in the past include: Arkansas Support Network, Benton County Sunshine School, Dogwood Literacy Council, Gentry Band Boosters, Gentry Elementary School PTO, Gentry Volunteer Fire Department, GHS Academic Booster Club, Gentry Masonic Lodge, Gentry Public Library, Gentry Youth Organization, Gentry High School FBLA, Gentry High Scholarship Committee, Gentry Middle School Booster Club, NWA Head Start, Main Street Gentry, Arkansas Crisis Center, NWA Rape Crisis Inc., Pioneer Booster Club, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County, Office of Human Concern, Gentry Senior Activity Center, The Manna Center and Total Life Community Center.

The United Way of Gentry provides donors with the flexibility of determining what program, service or cause they would like to support. From a broad perspective, the United Way of Gentry supports a wide range of causes that improve the quality of life in the Gentry area. Its funding priorities include: social and human services; youth development; education and life-long learning; emergency needs; public safety; economic vitality; arts, cultural and historical advancement, according to the organization’s website.

The Gentry United Way was formed in 1988 through discussions at a Gentry Chamber of Commerce meeting. Since that time, more than $1.2 million has been raised and distributed to other local non-profit agencies which assist people living within the Gentry School District boundaries.

Watch for more information on this year’s fundraising effort in future issues of the Eagle Observer.