"Wild About Reading" is coming to a park near you!!  Each event will be held from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. and will include reading, puppets and learning activities.  They will be held from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. at all locations.  CLICK HERE for more details and a listing of locations.

Listen to KMHL (1400 AM)/KKCK (99.7FM) for weather related cancellations. 

Lisa Rademacher

Grew up in Hoffman, Minnesota and now lives in Lynd, Minnesota.

Works at SW/WC Service Cooperative as a Shared Accountant

Interests include Reading, biking, and golfing

Why Lisa LIVES UNITED:  "I feel blessed for all the gifts I’ve been given.  I Live United in order to be involved and share those gifts with others.  We live in a great community and it’s important to come together to get things done that benefit everyone as a whole.  The United Way of Southwest Minnesota is a great organization in that by giving to them, the resources are distributed to various agencies through a grant application process.  Volunteer members of the community determine how those funds are used to produce positive results.  It truly is our United Way.

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

Kay Ponstein

Grew up in Arco, Minnesota and now lives in rural Ghent, Minnesota.

Works as Office Manager for Minnesota Cabinets of Marshall, Minnesota and Urbandale, Iowa.

Interests include reading, shopping, coffee with firends, family , gardening, playing cards and going to the cabin.

How Kay LIVES UNITED:  "I volunteer for United Way because the future of the people who live and work in Southwest Minnesota is important to me.  Living United keeps me connected with community volunteers and organizations.  One of my favorite quotes is from Winston Churchill.  He said, 'You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.'  The donations we make to United Way of Southwest Minnesota....stay here....work here....and find success here!  That is why I am proud to be  a volunteer." 

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

Kari Harding

Grew up and now lives in Canby, Minnesota.

Works - She is co-owner of Southwest Insurance Services of Canby.

Interests include - education, community improvement, baseball, shopping, cooking & baking.

How Kari LIVES UNITED:  " I volunteer and donate to the United Way because it is one of the few organizations I can be certain my work and dollars are used to address local needs.  I also like that the organizations we help go through a transparent application process where we can be sure of what we are supporting.   My favorite part about the United Way of SW MN is the work that is done in supporting early childhood learning.   I truly believe early childhood learning results in better student success and results in lower costs for schools."

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

Jeremy Gossen

Grew up in Minneota, Minnesota and now lives in Marshall

Works at Bremer Bank, Marshall, Minnesota as Vice President of Business Banking

Interests include:  Time with family and friends, golfing, reading, and supporting United Way of Southwest Minnesota

Why Jeremy LIVES UNITED:  "I LIVE UNITED because I believe it is a way to invest in my communities.  Being involved by donating time and resources allows us to determine what is important to Southwest Minnesota and work towards a better tomorrow knowing we are all in it together."

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

  Melinda Schmidt

Grew up in Granite Falls, Minnesota and now lives in Wood Lake.

Works as Vice President of Human Resources at North Star Mutual Insurance Company located in Cottonwood, Minnesota.

Interests include:  Travel, camping, spending time with family and friends, reading and all types of crafts.

How Melinda LIVES UNITED:  "As a concerned community member, supporting United Way provides a great opportunity to offer assistance to so many people right here in Southwestern Minnesota.  United Way has a well-designed process in place to assist in meeting the needs of others and I know that volunteering my time and resources helps me "Live United" by making a difference in the lives of so many people."

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

Angela Hulzebos

Grew up in Canby, Minnesota and now lives there.

Works at U.S. Bank, Marshall, as a Bankruptcy Supervisor

Interests include:  Spending time with family and friends, especially summertime at the lake; helping in the communities where she lives and works.  Her husband and two children are her greatest joy!

How Angela LIVES UNITED:  "I LIVE UNITED by volunteering my time as a board member for the United Way of Southwest Minnesota. This great organization provides so many wonderful opportunities for so many different people. A donation of time or money directly impacts children, families, seniors, etc. in our immediate area.

I LIVE UNITED to set an example for my kids on how we can all volunteer, donate and be a leader in our communities to make them a better place today and for the future!  I wasn't aware of the many programs that are supported by the United Way of SWMN and all the wonderful accomplishments they have made over the years. It truly is a great organization and one I am proud to say I am a volunteer for and make a donation to!"

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

 Angela Lance

Grew up Marshall and continues to make it her home.

Works as an auditor for Schwan's Shared Services, LLC.

Interests - Family time with her husband and two sons.  Time is spent participating in lots of sports, reading, having neighborhood fun and at the lake.  She enjoys finding personal time for great girlfriends, shopping and volunteering.

Why Angela LIVES UNITED:  "I volunteer with the United Way to learn and grow as a person - I am more patient, understanding and compassionate.  Volunteering with the United Way strengthens our community and breaks down barriers of fear and misunderstanding."

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

Cary Grover

Grew up in St. Cloud, MN and now lives in Marshall.

Works as Director of Project Execution at Schwan's Food Service, Inc.

Interests - Travel, canoeing, backpacking and youth soccer.

Why Cary LIVES UNITED:  "Anne Frank once said, 'how wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."  That why I LIVE UNITED!"

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

Kristel Schamber

Grew up in Pipestone, Minnesota and now lives in Marshall.

Works at Midwest Vision Centers, Marshall, as an Optometrist

Interests include Golf

How Kristel LIVES UNITED:  "I volunteer for United Way of Southwest Minnesota because every child deserves an opportunity to succeed.   Investing in our community helps put more opportunities in our children's hands.  Whether it is in the form of food, books, or parent forums, it's a collective effort that we all should be actively involved in to make Southwest Minnesota an even better place to raise families.  You never know the little things that might make a big difference in a child's life."

Click here to read how others release their inner hero!

Donna Swenson -

Grew up in Blue Earth, MN and now lives in Marshall

Co-Owner of Action Manufacturing

Interests include:  Reading, traveling, gardening, and spending time with grandkids.

 

How Donna LIVES UNITED:  "What ‘Live United' means to me is lots of people coming together and doing for others what one person could not do alone."

 

CLICK HERE to read how others release their inner hero.

Tom Landmark -

Grew up in Peever, South Dakota and now lives in Marshall (and Hendricks)

Works as Vice President & Collections Risk Manager at US Bank

Interests include:  Fishing walleye, hunting pheasants, teaching confirmation classes and spending time with family - especially at the lake.

 

How Tom LIVES UNITED:  "Being a leader in a community is not just about visibility.  It is about setting an example and acting upon those things that are most important to your beliefs now and for future generations.  LIVING UNITED means that I don't just wear the shirt, I live it!"

CLICK HERE to read how others release their inner hero.