WyCo United Way annual meeting features KU coach

March 24, 2008 For Immediate Release

Contact: Brandi Fisher, Vice President 913-371-3674 Ext. 311

Kansas City, Kansas… The United Way of Wyandotte County will conduct its 2008 Annual Meeting Luncheon on Friday April 11, 2008. This year’s featured speaker will be former Kansas State Football coach Bill Snyder, Chair of the Kansas Mentors Leadership Council. The event will be held from 11:30a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Reardon Convention Center, 500 Minnesota Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.

Coach Snyder’s leadership on mentoring ties in with the United Way’s new Community Investment Plan which focuses United Way dollars and other resources around three issue areas: Meeting Basic Needs, Promoting Health and Quality of Life, and Nurturing Children and Families. The latter is defined as providing children and families with access to the tools they need to thrive: to grow, learn, and achieve their goals. Having positive adult role models and mentors actively involved in the lives of young people has been a proven strategy in meeting this goal.

In January 2006, Governor Kathleen Sebelius asked Coach Snyder to join her in ensuring every child has access to quality mentoring opportunities. Coach Snyder agreed to continue his career of mentoring young Kansans by leading Kansas Mentors-a statewide effort to promote mentoring and to encourage more adults to become caring role models for Kansas children.

Prior to working with the Kansas Mentors program, Bill Snyder served as the head football coach at Kansas State University for 17 years. Snyder led the team to 11 straight bowl berths between the 1993 and 2003 seasons. During his tenure, Snyder's Wildcats won nearly 80 percent of their games, chalking up 109 victories giving Kansas State the distinction of having the nation's second strongest winning record over that period. He has been a finalist for numerous coaching awards and has been named Coach of the Year on three occasions.

A large crowd is expected, so persons wishing to attend are encouraged to get their tickets early. Luncheon tickets are $30 each and table sponsorships are available. Call the United Way office at 913-371-3674 to reserve your tickets. Deadline is April 4th.

The mission of the United Way of Wyandotte County is to increase the community's understanding of human needs and to mobilize the resources to meet those needs.

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