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The Pittsburg State Community Campaign has come a long way since it began 25 years ago.
Back in its early days, the campaign worked a little differently.
“We would match community members with professors and make individual calls on a business,” said Mark Werner, Citizens Bank president and Community Campaign co-chairman. “As things got more complicated, the staff has handled more of that.”
A breakfast on Tuesday kicked off the 25th year of the Community Campaign, a two-week fundraising campaign for Pittsburg State that targets local businesses.
Werner said Pittsburg State does not set a particular financial goal for the Community Campaign, as the goal is more intended to raise awareness of Pittsburg State with the area businesses.
“I think it’s an indicator of how strong the university presence is in this business community,” Werner said. “So many businesses around here hire Pittsburg State students and Pittsburg State graduates to work in the community. Pitt State directly benefits by producing a multiplier effect on the business community.”
Werner, although the co-chairman of the campaign, is not a Pittsburg State graduate. But his oldest daughter is a graduate, he has taught classes at the university and his wife works for PSU.
He’s also got a vision for what the next 25 years of the Community Campaign might look like.
“I’d like to think we’ll continue to show our gratitude and support for the university,” Werner said. “There are so many things that we’ve built over 25 years. The Chamber puts on Paint the Town Red. Our community is unique in that the relationship between the city and the university is very solid. Other cities don’t have near that type of relationship.”
Tuesday’s breakfast did more than just kick off the campaign. It was also a time for honors.
Wendell and Lynda Wilkinson, longtime PSU supporters, were honored with the Rex Crowley Award.
Several other businesses were recognized for being a part of the campaign since the beginning, including: American Concrete Company, Arma Drug, Bank of America, Bath Naylor Funeral Home, Bob Dittmann Insurance Agency, Brenner Mortuary, Citizens Bank, Coldwell Banker Jim Bishop and Associates, Commerce Bank, Cronister Ace Hardware, Jim’s Steak House and Lounge, Jones Heritage Realtors, Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union, Kiwanis Club of Pittsburg, Lindburg Pharmacy, Loy Law Firm LLC, M&I Bank, Marrone’s, The Medicine Shoppe, Menghini Bros. Distributors, Midwest Minerals, Miller’s Professional Imaging, NPC International, Otto’s Cafe, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, Pitsco, Pitt Plastics, Ron’s Supermarket, Rotary Club of Pittsburg, Rua Insurance Agency, Treble Clef Club, Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, and Wheeler & Mitchelson.
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
The Pittsburg State Community Campaign has come a long way since it began 25 years ago.
Back in its early days, the campaign worked a little differently.
“We would match community members with professors and make individual calls on a business,” said Mark Werner, Citizens Bank president and Community Campaign co-chairman. “As things got more complicated, the staff has handled more of that.”
A breakfast on Tuesday kicked off the 25th year of the Community Campaign, a two-week fundraising campaign for Pittsburg State that targets local businesses.
Werner said Pittsburg State does not set a particular financial goal for the Community Campaign, as the goal is more intended to raise awareness of Pittsburg State with the area businesses.
“I think it’s an indicator of how strong the university presence is in this business community,” Werner said. “So many businesses around here hire Pittsburg State students and Pittsburg State graduates to work in the community. Pitt State directly benefits by producing a multiplier effect on the business community.”
Werner, although the co-chairman of the campaign, is not a Pittsburg State graduate. But his oldest daughter is a graduate, he has taught classes at the university and his wife works for PSU.
He’s also got a vision for what the next 25 years of the Community Campaign might look like.
“I’d like to think we’ll continue to show our gratitude and support for the university,” Werner said. “There are so many things that we’ve built over 25 years. The Chamber puts on Paint the Town Red. Our community is unique in that the relationship between the city and the university is very solid. Other cities don’t have near that type of relationship.”
Tuesday’s breakfast did more than just kick off the campaign. It was also a time for honors.
Wendell and Lynda Wilkinson, longtime PSU supporters, were honored with the Rex Crowley Award.
Several other businesses were recognized for being a part of the campaign since the beginning, including: American Concrete Company, Arma Drug, Bank of America, Bath Naylor Funeral Home, Bob Dittmann Insurance Agency, Brenner Mortuary, Citizens Bank, Coldwell Banker Jim Bishop and Associates, Commerce Bank, Cronister Ace Hardware, Jim’s Steak House and Lounge, Jones Heritage Realtors, Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union, Kiwanis Club of Pittsburg, Lindburg Pharmacy, Loy Law Firm LLC, M&I Bank, Marrone’s, The Medicine Shoppe, Menghini Bros. Distributors, Midwest Minerals, Miller’s Professional Imaging, NPC International, Otto’s Cafe, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, Pitsco, Pitt Plastics, Ron’s Supermarket, Rotary Club of Pittsburg, Rua Insurance Agency, Treble Clef Club, Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, and Wheeler & Mitchelson.
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
