UScellular Donates Equipment to Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia’s Photography Club  

UScellular is giving back to the community by donating needed items to Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia. With its “Gift of Connection” program, UScellular is donating $5,000 worth of equipment to support the organization’s photography club.

The club received Dell computers, Apple iPads, and cases, a Fujifilm camera and film, a 4K camcorder, Apple pencils, a phone tripod, a lighting kit, and a ring light.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia does so much for the Columbia community, so we want to help them deliver the much-needed support they provide with a donation of equipment for its photography club,” said Teri Twyman, agent development manager for UScellular in Missouri and Kansas.

The donation is one of forty nonprofit donations to organizations across the country in honor of UScellular’s fortieth anniversary. The company is helping organizations that bring people and communities together to enjoy connections through arts, music, sports, and food. 

Since 2009, UScellular has invested more than $35 million in monetary donations, technology resources, and countless experiences to nonprofit organizations across the country.

MU Health Care to Partner with Red Slipper Warrior Project

MU Health Care is partnering with Red Slipper Warrior Project to help girls find their warrior spirit while maintaining their identity in the process. The Red Slipper Warrior Project was founded after CEO Tim Tinnin’s late wife, Angie, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. She often remarked that she felt like cancer had become all that she was.

Tinnin took his experience with Missouri’s SWAT team to create a way to foster the “warrior mindset” within women and girls going through a cancer diagnosis. Now RSWP has grown to include a package for women that includes a go-bag, sparkly slippers, and a community to rally behind the warrior. Little girls receive Hope, a stuffed bunny with their slippers, so they know they never have to fight alone.

We have sent packages to twenty-three states, Canada, and the UK, and now we are thrilled to be launching this project on a wider scale with our partners at MU Health Care,” Tinnin says. “Every little girl receiving treatment will be a Warrior.” 

RSWP’s goal is to reach every little girl and every woman who is “in the fight” and help them become better advocates for their cause.

‘Hug a Hero’ Campaign Raises $4,925 for The Fisher House

Central Bank of Boone County and Central Bank of Audrain County collected $4,925 in donations for the Mid-Missouri Fisher House at the Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital during its “Hug a Hero” event in November.

Visitors could donate $10 to the Fisher House and receive a “Hug a Hero” hat at any Boone or Audrain county branch location. The check was presented to The Fisher House at a bank-wide celebration. The Mid-Missouri Fisher House serves as a “home away from home” for the families of veterans or military service members receiving treatment at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Medical Center. There is no cost to stay and there is no financial eligibility required.

Columbia College Receives Grant to Grow Missouri Educator Workforce

Columbia College recently received a $70,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that the college will use to launch its ConnectUP! Program, which aims to build and strengthen the statewide teacher workforce.

The grant was awarded through the state of Missouri’s “Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly” awards, also known as the DEWEY awards. The college was one of fifteen higher education institutions to receive equivalent awards.

“Investing in the teachers of today and tomorrow is as critical as ever,” says Dr. Sandra Hamar, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Columbia College is committed to partnering with current and future educators every step of the way. This program is a three-stage approach toward helping teachers while emphasizing increased opportunities in rural areas.”

The program will recruit new students interested in becoming a teacher by giving them access to technology resources such as laptops and internet connection to take online or virtual courses; provide scholarships to existing students during their student teaching semester where they are paired with an experienced teacher and mentored in the profession; and offer monetary support to help graduates purchase teaching and learning supplies in their first or second year of teaching.

Big Tree Medical Introduces Bioidentical Hormone Pellets

Big Tree Medical, a local concierge medical practice, announces the addition of bioidentical hormone pellets to its range of personalized healthcare services for both men and women. The new offering is designed to optimize hormonal balance, a common concern that can impact various aspects of daily life. The key benefits of bioidentical hormone pellets are: 

• Increased energy – Achieve a renewed sense of vitality and stamina. 
• Balanced mood – Regain emotional equilibrium for a more stable and positive outlook.
• Improved sleep – Experience better sleep quality and enhanced overall well-being. 
• Mental clarity – Sharpen cognitive function and mental acuity. 
• Restored libido – Enhance intimacy and overall sexual wellness.