The United Way of the Pennyrile and participating organizations celebrated another successful fundraising campaign on Tuesday, and those who helped make it successful were honored with awards and recognitions.
In September, United Way Campaign Co-Chairs Bri Smith and Abigail Landrum kicked off the 2025-26 fundraising campaign and announced their goal of raising $715,000 to support 16 nonprofits in Christian, Todd and Trigg counties. On Tuesday evening, the Silo Event Center was filled with pink, coinciding with this year’s theme, “Give Unlimited Possibilities,” inspired by a recent Barbie brand campaign.
Before the grand total was announced, those who led this year’s campaign presented awards to organizations and people who were instrumental in helping the United Way surpass its goal.
This was local United Way Executive Director Melanie Noffsinger’s first time working on a campaign from start to finish. To kick off the celebration, she thanked attendees for their donations and said that they helped turn possibilities into opportunities.
Among the awards presented were the Beverly Whitfield Award, which recognizes an individual’s dedication to a United Way partner agency, and the J. William Flowers Award, which recognizes an individual for their outstanding service to the United Way.
The Beverly Whitfield Award was presented to Lynn Major, who established the Rock Steady Boxing Program at the Hopkinsville Family YMCA. The non-contact boxing program helps people with Parkinson’s Disease better manage their symptoms. Major says the late Betsy Fuqua informed her of the program 10 years ago, and since then, it has had a profound impact on those in the community living with Parkinson’s Disease.
The J. Williams Flowers Award was presented to Lana Bastin. She was thankful for the award and says she knew Mr. Flowers and hopes she can at least have a fraction of the positive impact he had on the community.
Then, a gift was presented to Sue Badgett and the Brown Badgett Foundation for making the largest donation from a single donor in the local United Way’s history of $75,000. Badgett says she would not be where she is now without the support of people in the community, and this is her way of giving back.
To conclude the celebration, Smith and Landrum unraveled a banner showing that $800,292 was raised for this year’s campaign. Nicole Cravens was announced as the next Board Chair of the United Way, and the next campaign chair will be announced at a later date.
The rest of the awards given at the celebration include:
100% Employee Participation Awards: Aaron McNeil House, Armed Services YMCA, Atmos Energy, Baird Private Wealth Management, Bastin Optometric Clinic, Christian County Chamber of Commerce, Christian County Emergency Management, Christian County Literacy Council, Dyslexia Association of the Pennyrile, Hopkinsville Electric System, Pennyrile Children’s Advocacy Center, the Hopkinsville Salvation Army, the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council, Trace Industries and University Heights Academy.
Within each campaign division a Spirit Award was given to the organization with the largest donation increase for last year, and the Chairman’s Award was given to the organization that donated the most within the division.
Commercial Division
Spirit Award: Christian County Chamber of Commerce
Chairman’s Award: Planter’s Bank
Education Division
Spirit Award: University Heights Academy
Chairman’s Award: Hopkinsville Community College
Industrial Division
Spirit Award: Atmos Energy
Chairman’s Award: Pennyrile Electric
Government Division
Spirit Award: Community and Development Services
Chairman’s Award: Hopkinsville Fire Department
Professional Division
Spirit Award: Hopkinsville Family YMCA
Chairman’s Award: Jennie Stuart Health
Regional Impact Award Winners: Pennyrile Electric and Wabash
People Helping People Awards
Small Business Division: Atmos Energy
Medium Business Division: Hopkinsville Electric System
Large Business Division: City of Hopkinsville
Overall Winner: H&R Agri-Power