Morgan County Prairieland United Way Raises $517,500; Extra Funds Already Needed

Prairieland United Way’s 2026 campaign closed the final week of February with a $517,500 total, $42,500 more than its $475,000 goal, Executive Director Karen Walker told WLDS. “That’s 9 percent more than the goal of $475-thousand,” Walker said, and WLDS reported that “Walker says the extra $42-thousand is money that is needed. She said requests for this year came in $70-thousand beyond the goal, so the money is needed.”

The $517,500 tally also exceeded last year’s campaign, which Walker said raised $492-thousand; the 2026 total therefore tops 2025 by $25,500. WLDS reported that the campaign wrapped up the final week of February and that allocation meetings begin next week with volunteer members from the community to decide how funds will be distributed.

Leadership on the drive included campaign co-chairmen Daniel Hackett and Ryne Turke alongside Walker. WLDS noted “the two co chairmen, Daniel Hackett and Ryne Turke worked throughout the campaign with their own goal of $500-thousand.” WLDS added, “She says both were working the final days of last month,” underscoring the co-chairs’ hands-on push during the campaign’s close.

Campaign organizers credited a handful of new fundraising ideas for boosting donations late in the drive. WLDS reported, “Turke and Hackett came up with several new ideas, including a polar plunge, a hots chip challenge, and got the local eateries involved again in the final weeks.” WLDS’ account preserved the phrasing “hots chip challenge”; campaign organizers have not provided further event totals in WLDS’ reporting.

Prairieland United Way’s next organizational steps are set: WLDS reported that allocation meetings with volunteer community members will begin next week, and that “the annual meeting is tentatively set for the Twisted Tree April 15th.” Those meetings will be the forum for deciding how to meet requests that WLDS says exceeded the original goal by $70-thousand.

For regional context on corporate partnerships with United Way efforts, WGRZ reported a separate Tops supermarket United Way campaign that raised $66,549 and quoted Darren Robbins, the Treasurer for Tops, saying, “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our associates and customers, we're proud to have exceeded our United Way Campaign goals. Your dedication and support have made a meaningful impact, helping to create a stronger, healthier community for all.” Tops’ campaign history in WGRZ’s report includes support since 2012 and a 2024 total above $57,800; that effort is separate from Prairieland’s campaign.

Prairieland’s surplus is already earmarked to answer higher-than-expected requests; allocation meetings beginning next week and the tentative April 15 annual meeting at the Twisted Tree will determine how that $517,500 is divided among local requests.