In partnership with a wide range of local sponsors, the MAUW hosted its annual kickoff event at the Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center (MACC) on Tuesday night with ribs donated by JBS and prepared by a celebrity grillmaster, Deputy Andy Cole of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office (Walmart provided the sides and condiments). As the festivities moved inside, Sorensen welcomed those in attendance and explained why she’s been wearing a tie for the last week or so.

MAUW Events and Marketing Coordinator Michelle Roseburrough saw an idea from another United Way in which someone wore a tie as “a walking barometer” of how close they were to reaching the goal, and Sorensen loved it. After she told Rotarian Paul Hermanson about it, he went to a thrift store where he had recently donated several of his ties, bought them back and donated them for the good of the campaign.

Sorensen took time to thank several of the sponsors who helped make the night and the campaign, which benefits a total of 27 partner agencies and 30 programs, possible.

“It just goes to show, again, how much our community embraces us and says ‘I want to be a part of this,'” she said.

Deputy Andy Cole of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office prepared ribs donated by JBS for the meal at the United Way kickoff event on Tuesday evening.

Roseburrough then highlighted the fact that Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day and commended Auditor/Recorder Nan Benson and Assistant/Deputy Auditor and Recorder Jessie Chizek for being on hand and having a table set up at the event with absentee ballots available.

Sorensen also thanked a host of volunteers who have contributed their time and talents to making each campaign a success before handing the microphone to Bowermaster and Leger, both Marshalltown High School (MHS) alums. Bowermaster is currently the workforce development director at the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, while Leger runs her own marketing company.

“When Kendra asked me if I wanted to co-chair, I said ‘Yeah, sure, I love to help the community and am always looking for ways to make this a better place to live, work, learn and play,” Leger said.

The duo took time to introduce the campaign cabinet members and played a few kickoff videos — including one made in a “TikTok style” — showcasing the various local agencies the United Way helps to fund before asking their representatives to stand and be recognized. Sorensen also shouted out the media outlets that provide publicity throughout campaign season and noted the insert from last weekend’s T-R explaining the MAUW and the most recent ALICE report — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

As Sorensen explained, individuals who fall into the ALICE category are above the poverty line but don’t qualify for certain services and can face financial hardships if an unexpected expense arises. In the city of Marshalltown, 41 percent of the population meets the definition, followed by Le Grand at 37 percent and then Rhodes and State Center within Marshall County.

Sandy Short, right, serves food to Tom Apgar, left, during the Marshalltown Area United Way kickoff event at the MACC on Tuesday evening.

“All of those things are very prevalent, not just in our community but outside of our community,” she said.

Senior citizens are the most impacted group in terms of ALICE, and female heads of household with children aren’t far behind. Considering these facts, Sorensen said, helped to center her and open her eyes while giving her a sense of perspective on why she loves her job so much.

“I’m totally off script. I’m gonna get back on script. I’m a passionate person, alright?” she said.

Once she solicited a round of applause for MAUW Administrative Assistant Haley Carlon, Roseburrough shared information on several upcoming fundraising events including Applebee’s Night, the pickleball tournament, Power of the Purse and the Jail ‘n Bail event at YSS. Power of the Purse comes with a special twist this year — if the $50,000 fundraising goal is met, KFJB News Director Zach Tomesch, who is known for his lengthy mane, will shave his head.

Sorensen then revealed that the campaign is already over a quarter of the way toward its goal with $234,617 raised so far, and Bowermaster and Leger took turns making the first cut in her tie.

From left to right, MAUW Administrative Assistant Haley Carlon, Executive Director Kendra Sorensen and Events and Marketing Manager Michelle Roseburrough and 2024-2025 Campaign Co-Chairs Kyley Leger and Kate Bowermaster pose for a photo at the conclusion of the event on Tuesday

Before the event wrapped up, Sorensen said this year’s goal — a $75,000 jump from the previous campaign — was “hard” to set, but it wasn’t a number they just picked out of the sky.

“That is what it takes to fund our agencies here so they can continue delivering programs and services,” she said. “And let me tell you this, that’s sustaining.”

The partner agencies, she added, are doing their best to continue to provide the aforementioned services and, in some cases, even dipping into their reserve funds to do so. Leger ended the night on a humorous note when she told the audience that she and Bowermaster would not be repeating former co-chair Kyle Martin’s infamous “Speedo Run” down Main Street after last year’s goal was met.

Nonetheless, she encouraged community members to get involved and contribute.

“Please help us rally around the goal. Encourage your neighbors (and) friends. Help us to spread the word,” Leger said. “Your money helps us help our friends and neighbors, coworkers (and) everyone in this community… We all know that it’s just truly important to reach this goal, and we’re excited.”

Bowermaster added that a single donation can help more than one person and more than one family.