HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The United Way of the Pennyrile hosted their annual Campaign Awards Celebration in Hopkinsville on Feb. 10 to recognize those who helped make their 2025-26 fundraising campaign a success.
With the theme of Give Unlimited Possibilities, this year’s campaign highlighted the power of collective giving and the impact it has across Christian, Trigg and Todd counties. Their fundraising goal of $715,000 was exceeded, with United Way announcing at the total of $800,292 during the awards at The Silo.
“This campaign has been especially meaningful to me because it’s my first full campaign as Executive Director, and the first one I’ve had the chance to help plan from start to finish,” Melanie Noffsinger told Christian County Now. “To see it all come together tonight is incredibly special. This event is a celebration of what happens when a community comes together with a shared purpose.”
The United Way of the Pennyrile funds 16 partner agencies that provide critical services across the three county region. In Christian County this includes the Aaron McNeil House, the Boys & Girls Club of Hopkinsville-Christian County, the Christian County Literacy Council, Christian County Rescue Team, PACS, Sanctuary Inc. and more.
Noffsinger added, “I’m incredibly proud of the collective efforts of our amazing campaign co-chairs, our United Way board members and volunteers, and most of all, I’m so proud to live in a community full of people who generously support our agencies. Our agencies are at the heart of our organization and the reason we do what we do. I’m thankful for all of our partnerships.”
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Award winners
The United Way of the Pennyrile released the following organizations and individuals who were awarded at the campaign celebration.
Beverly Whitfield Award – Lynn Major, Hopkinsville Family YMCA
J. William Flowers Award – Lana Bastin, Previous UWP Board Chair
People Helping People Awards
- Overall Winner– H&R Agri-Power- $84,105.30- this total is from their employee giving, Bake Sale Auction, Benefit Golf Scramble, a match from Mr. Wayne Hunt and the Hunt Family Foundation
- Large Firm – The City of Hopkinsville- $75,863.54
- Medium Firm – Hopkinsville Electric System- $36, 921.63 (They are 100% participating and 87% of them are Latham Society Givers)
- Small Firm – Atmos Energy- $9,393.24
Regional Impact Awards
- Todd County – Pennyrile Electric
- Trigg County – Wabash
Sue Badgett was acknowledged for her contribution of $75,000, with the Brown Badgett Foundation recognized for becoming the largest single donor in their campaign’s history.
Top 10 Overall Donors
- H&R Agri-Power- $84,105.30
- City of Hopkinsville- $75,863.54
- Pennyrile Electric- $56,126.29
- Hopkinsville Water Environmental Authority- $47,500
- Hopkinsville Electric System – $36,921.63
- Planters Bank- $36,907.98
- Krusteaz-$26,655.20
- Jennie Stuart Health- $16,570.36
- Riken Elastomers & Americas-$14,729.28
- Siemer Milling- $13,297.32
Noffsinger also shouted out the event sponsors; Exxon Mobil, Deaconess-Jennie Stuart Health, Planters Bank, HWEA, PRECC and United Southern Bank.
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