As one door closed on last year’s efforts from the United Way of the Pennyrile, a new one opened Monday afternoon in Hopkinsville — when its officials announced the 2023-24 financial gift-giving campaign theme and its co-chairs.
Best friends Chris Jung and Cody Noffsinger will be channeling two funky, familiar co-stars “on a mission from God.”
Behind this theme of the beloved Blues Brothers, Jung said there’s going to be a true passion for Christian County and its surrounding municipalities, as the United Way and its givers rally around nearly 20 non-profit organizations each year.
Their collective hope: to do the right thing.
Jung noted they want to “tap in” with the non-profit organizations that consistently change lives, perhaps through social media, podcasting and more. His wife, Brooke, is Hopkinsville’s tourism executive director, and two years ago co-chaired the United Way campaign alongside Mayor Dan Kemp. So, there’s some institutional knowledge with these efforts.
Noffsinger, meanwhile, has considerable recent experience in raising funds — having chaired the prestigious Hopkinsville Rotary Auction — and laughed, noting his wife, Melanie, could also help “coach them up” through this endeavor.
He also said this team-up has often been discussed, finally now coming to fruition.
While fun can and should bring energy, Jung and Noffsinger also understand the gravity of the campaign. In the last two pushes, more than $1.4 million has been raised for organizations in Christian, Caldwell, Trigg and Todd counties — and there’s been a concerted push under Executive Director Betsy Bond for continued, and improved, regional outreach.
Past Chair Tab Brockman said he’s pretty “jacked up” for this next year’s run, and strongly suggests folks watch “Blues Brothers” in order for understanding.
Dates for the annual kickoff, as well as other programming, will come at a later date.
In other United Way news:
— New board members include last year’s co-campaign chairs in Whitney Stewart and Lucas Stagner, as well as Martha Argotte, Steffani Burton and Nancy Moore.
— New officers include chair Lana Bastin, treasurer Kristin Knight and past chair Tab Brockman.
— Retiring board members are Dr. Alissa Young, Betsy Shelton, Maggie Ferguson, Deanna Coker and Melissa Spurr.
— Kelley Workman and Elizabeth McCoy have also been named Latham Chairs for the 2023-24 campaign.
