Message from the Interim President and CEO, David Holtgraewe

Heart of Missouri United Way is an organization blessed by the generous support of thousands of individuals committed to a common purpose: improving lives in our community for those facing poverty, hardship, and misfortune. Rising to the challenge of this common purpose does not come in a single moment or action. Instead, it requires a constant, consistent effort to work each day so that all in our community may thrive. 

In this, my twenty-second year of service at Heart of Missouri United Way, I am just as impressed by the efforts of our Board, staff, partner agencies, and donors as I was on my first day. My gratitude and appreciation for our community effort is boundless. 

Our campaign Co-Chairs Dr. Lauren and Rhett Brengarth demonstrated servant leadership throughout our fund-raising effort. The leadership and employees of our twenty-eight Pacesetter organizations generated more than $1.55 million. Our Community Impact team made difficult decisions to invest $1.92 million in education grants over the next three years. Our collaboration with numerous organizations led to another successful year of Read Across Columbia and the 2024 Week of Action. Our Give 5 program has continued to grow by matching passionate retired volunteers to community agencies. Our partnership with City of Columbia on the ASPIRES project continues to improve the strength and resiliency of our non-profit sector and better meet the needs of our community. 

These are just a few of the highlights that bring me hope as we look to the future of Heart of Missouri United Way. My gratitude goes out to all that read this message for working to ensure that all in our community may thrive. 

Agency Spotlight

Mission: Columbia Housing Authority provides quality affordable housing opportunities with supportive and economic resources to eligible households in Columbia, Boone County. 

Vision: To be our community’s leading affordable housing provider with a diverse and expanding portfolio of safe, energy-efficient and affordable housing options connected to supportive resources that foster stability and upward mobility. 

United Way Support: Education Impact investments support the Moving Ahead Program which helps vulnerable youth from low-income families succeed academically, mentally, and socially by working to reduce the risk factors associated with lower socioeconomic status through trauma-informed care, academic-focused programming, and social-emotional learning. 

Growing Opportunities for Residents in Need:  

CoMoGives and the Community Foundation of Central Missouri 

Since 2013, the Community Foundation of Central Missouri has led the annual CoMoGives effort to create a centralized community fund-raising drive for non-profit organizations serving the varied needs of Columbia. 

CoMoGives has grown by leaps and bounds. $62,400 was raised in its first year to support 30 organizations. The 2024 effort raised $1,961,343 from 4,088 separate donors in support of 180 organizations. Participating organizations vary widely in their mission and purpose but are all uniquely situated to address unmet needs in mid-Missouri.  

Heart of Missouri United Way is a proud partner and participant in the CoMoGives effort, receiving more than $23,000 in community donations through this platform. 

Substantial investments through CoMoGives to Heart of Missouri United Way came from two couples that have been long-standing supporters of our organization: Rick and Molly Means and Pat Westhoff and Elena Vega. These four individuals are community leaders in their own right, and our gratitude is abundant for their support of efforts to improve outcomes in education, health and basic needs, and financial security so that all in our community may thrive. 

Undertaking a community campaign such as CoMoGives is no small task. Community Foundation of Central Missouri Executive Director Eric Sappington, Administrative Assistant Janet Deneke, the CFCM Board, Kerrie Bloss, and other team members each have our gratitude for their efforts to successfully carry off this unifying fund-raising event that serves countless mid-Missouri residents.   

Board Member Spotlight



Laura Gerding,

Marketing Committee Chair

As part of the marketing team at MEM, Laura manages the corporate impact program including charitable giving and employee volunteerism. 

After graduating from high school east of St. Louis in Edwardsville, Illinois, she earned a degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism specializing in magazine journalism. There, she was also a member of Marching Mizzou playing the tenor saxophone for three seasons. 

After an internship at Southern Living Magazine, she became an associate editor at the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal. She then joined Mitchell Communication Group as an account executive before moving back to Columbia to join Vangel Marketing Communications as a public relations account executive. 

Prior to joining MEM in 2018, she spent eight years at the University of Missouri serving in several communications roles for the School of Medicine and MU Health Care, most recently as alumni affairs director. It was during this time that she would begin raising her young family and finish her MBA. 

Laura’s role at MEM provided an opportunity for her to engage with Heart of Missouri United Way as a loaned executive helping to execute the annual fund-raising effort, and she was invited to join the Heart of Missouri United Way Board of Directors as the marketing committee chair and member of the executive committee. She is a co-chair of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Emerging Issues Committee, and a past chair of the American Heart Association’s Go Red Luncheon Purse Committee. She is a former president of the board of directors for Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity and the Mid Missouri chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. 

Joining Forces to Fight for Literacy 

Heart of Missouri United Way proudly partnered with the Mizzou Men’s basketball team, University of Missouri Athletics, Champions for Literacy, Mizzou’s Pi Beta Phi Women’s Fraternity, and International Paper on November 27 to host the Fight for Literacy event at the Mizzou men’s basketball game against Lindenwood University. Mizzou Athletic Director Laird Veatch and Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services Tami Chievous joined 2024 community campaign co-chairs Dr. Lauren and Rhett Brengarth, their family and other United Way supporters on court at half time to present a $5,000 check. The event collected more than 700 books for Columbia youth. 

International Paper has generously committed to match up to an additional $5,000 in gifts through March.

Thank you Mizzou Athletics, Director Laird Veatch, Associated Director Tami Chievous, Coach Dennis Gates, and all that have supported the Fight for Literacy.   

Heart of Missouri United Way invests in programs at nonprofit organizations in the impact areas of health and basic needs, education, and financial stability. Our investments reach individuals and families in Boone, Cooper, and Howard Counties. Donate today to make an impact in our community.

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