United Way of St. Francois County welcomes new board members
The United Way of St. Francois County has added Debbie Bunch and Dr. Richard Winder to its Board of Directors. The two are longtime residents of St. Francois County and have a wealth of knowledge of the communities they will serve.
“We are excited to bring these two community leaders to the board of directors and I know the United Way will be strengthened by their contributions,” said Paula Jackson, president of the United Way Board.
Bunch, who lives in Bonne Terre, is a Vice President of New Era Bank. She has lived in St. Francois County all her life.
“The United Way has such a great reputation and their work benefits so many charities in our communities,” said Bunch. “I like that all of the money raised stays right here in our community. In these hard times, it’s good to know we are helping our neighbors.”
She is also a member of the Park Hills Lions’ Club, the St. Francois County Industrial Development Authority Board and a past Farmington Downtown Development Association Board Member and a past President of the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce.
Bunch has been a bell-ringer during the holiday season for United Way, attended Girls’ Nights Out fundraisers and was in the audience for Rock United in January.
Winder moved to St. Francois County from Phoenix in 1976 to set up a private medical practice. He was Mineral Area Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Room Medical Director from 1988 until his semi-retirement in 2010. Currently, he is the Medical Director and Physician Advisor for MARMC and Medical Director for the St. Francois County Ambulance District and the surrounding counties of Washing, Iron, Madison and Reynolds.
“This is my first experience with United Way although many years ago I was a bell-ringer,” he said. “This community has been very good to me over the years and I sincerely hope that by serving on the board I can contribute to the best of my abilities.”
The United Way of St. Francois County raises funds to support local agencies that meet basic human needs. In 2013, the goal is to raise $190,000 to award in grants. The timeline for applying for 2013 funding is April 2-May 10 and the application is available on the United Way’s web site beginning April 2 at www.unitedwayofsfc.org.
In 2012, the United Way awarded grants to: Upward Smiles Children’s Dental Clinic; St. Francois County Community Partnership’s Season of Hope; SEMO Family Violence Council; YFC Inc. – Young Faith in Christ; L.I.F.E. Center for Independent Living;
Parkland Foster Adopt Families; Meals on Wheels for Special Diets; Caring Communities of West, North and Central School Districts; Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County; Salvation Army; Bismarck , Park Hills, Bonne Terre and Farmington Senior Centers;, Parkland Pregnancy Resource Center; Farmington Ministerial Alliance, Bonne Terre Ministerial Alliance, St. Vincent De Paul Farmington, Elvins, St. Vincent De Paul Park Hills, and Bismarck Church of God food pantries; Children’s Advocacy Center in Farmington; Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri; Shared Blessings Homeless Shelter in Bonne Terre; and Helping Hands of Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center.
Additional members of the United Way board are Dennis Smith, vice president; Sue Evans, First State Financial Services – treasurer; Tammy Bracken, Serenity HospiceCare – secretary; Mark Toti, KREI – Immediate Past President; Kerry Glore-St. Francois Co. Treasurer; Peggy Ropelle-Mineral Area College; Stacy Stevens-West Co. Schools; Jackie Berry-Mineral Area College; George Easley-Daily Journal; Mark Hedrick-St. Francois Co. Clerk; Mike Gladbach-Retired Businessman; Mary Lee Faircloth-Retired, Central Schools; Greg Camp, City of Desloge; Shelly Tate, Ozarks Federal Savings & Loan; Brice Sechrest, Attorney; and Kelly Barnes, USA Drug. Donna Hickman is executive director of the United Way of St. Francois County.
