Women Pledge Record Amount at Women with Heart

    August 27th, 2021

    Over $200,000 pledged to Greater Mankato Area United Way programs. Anonymous donor pledges $10,000

    MANKATO—Area women pledged a record amount of over $200,000 to support Greater Mankato Area United Way’s 2022 campaign at the nonprofit’s 12th annual Women with Heart Luncheon. The amount includes a $10,000 gift made by an anonymous donor.

    This is an increase of more than $25,000 in pledges from last year’s amount.

    A record of more than 730 women attended the event on August 4 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.

    Women with Heart continued its recent focus on mental health, this year highlighting mental health in young people. Featured speakers included Kendall Grund and Kobi Schuck, both involved with Project for Teens, a United Way-funded program.

    Greater Mankato Area United Way’s 2022 campaign will support 59 programs within 40 agencies in Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Nicollet and Waseca counties. The 2022 campaign goal is $2,060,000.

    Women with Heart is the first major pledging event of the campaign. Pledges from the event continue to come in.

    According to United Way CEO Barb Kaus, the support of area women has been foundational throughout Greater Mankato Area United Way’s 90-year history.

    “Since 1931, women in our region have been at the forefront of change—organizing Depression-era food drives, supporting through financial gifts, and leading the way,” Kaus said. “They continue to step up to the challenge to ensure essential programs receive the funding they need through United Way.”

    Last year, Greater Mankato Area United Way’s programs served more than 50,000 people in the four-county area.