The Seward County United Way will be kicking off its 2014 Campaign at a Liberal Chamber of Commerce Breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept.6, at Seward County Community College. This year, the goal is $340,000, the highest goal ever set for the local United Way.

The Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast will also introduce the 2014 Campaign Chair, Ryan Valencia, branch manager at Sunflower Bank in Liberal.

“I’m excited to work with Ryan as our campaign chair. He’s great United Way supporter and has some great energy and ideas to bring to the campaign,” said Kay Burtzloff, executive director of the Seward County United Way.

The Seward County United Way is funding 27 agencies this year. “Every year, we have requests for more funds than we can provide so we try to focus on agencies that we know are making a difference in our community.”

The 27 agencies include American Red Cross, Arthritis Foundation, Big Brother / Big Sister, Boy Scouts, Building Blocks, Crossroads, Girl Scouts, Homecare, Inc. (Liberal Food Cupboard), Kansas Children’s Service League, KIDS Inc., Liberal Area Rape Crisis & Domestic Violence Services, Liberal Care Center (Mexican-American Ministries), Liberal Latchkey, Liberal Weissel Boxing Club, LINK, Parents and Children Together (PACT), Salvation Army, Senior Citizen Friendship Meals, Seward County Safety Council, Seward County Senior Care, Seward County Veterans Services, SKADAF (Drug and Alcohol Treatment), Stepping Stone Shelter, Southwest Guidance Center, Southwest Aquatics Swim Team, United Cerebral Palsy, and Whirlwind Career Counseling Center for Veterans and First Responders.

“We have some great door prizes and we’re planning a dynamic start to our 2014 Campaign. We will be announcing some of the events we already have set up to help make this a fun campaign year,” Burtzloff said. Cost for the breakfast is $7.50 and reservations may be made with the Chamber at 624-3855. Reservations need to be made by noon, Thursday, Sept. 5.