Plans for 2026 United Way Campaign
Dee Montgomery, MURA Representative, MU Heart of Missouri United Way Committee.
The MU Heart of Missouri United Way (HMUW) Committee will meet in mid-July, later than usual, to make plans for the 2026 campaign. Co-chairs for the 2026 campaign are Dr. Chad Higgins, vice chancellor of Extension and engagement, and Laird Veatch, athletic director.
The 2026 HMUW campaign will mark 80 years of mobilizing resources to help address our community’s most pressing needs through its programs and initiatives. Since 1946, the HMUW has raised over $150 million for our community. Its efforts include directly funding nonprofit organizations, helping nonprofits strengthen their operations and impact, and coordinating volunteer efforts to connect community members with ways to contribute their time, skills, and resources to local causes.
The latest data show that in 2025, $2.2 million was invested in grants and programs with $641,393 spent on education impact grants. Additionally in 2025, the HMUW promoted young people’s education by giving more than 3,400 books to first- and second-grade students as part of the Read Across Columbia program, along with 650 coupons for a free book of their choice at the Daniel Boone Regional Library.
The University of Missouri has partnered with the United Way for 75 years. In 2025, MU donated $554,931 to the HMUW campaign. Retirees contributed a very impressive $296,506 of that total. I encourage all retirees to continue supporting the MU campaign that helps the HMUW bring so many people together to move our community forward and build the next 80 years of impact.
