United Way Introduces 2022-23 Campaign Chair, Vice Chair
United Way of Greater Topeka Leadership donors were the first to learn who would lead the next year of the organization’s impact fundraising efforts.
At the nonprofit’s summer leadership investor gathering Wednesday, CEO Jessica Lehnherr introduced UWGT board member Trey George as the next Campaign Chair. George is the President and CEO of the Topeka Housing Authority (THA). THA’s Pine Ridge neighborhood is home to the Pine Ridge Prep Preschool and the Pine Ridge Partnership. United Way has invested in the preschool since its founding a decade ago.
“I am excited to serve as the Campaign Chair this year, George said. “My friends and colleagues at United Way know how passionate I am about helping people and how strongly I believe in our community. I am honored to be able to share with the community all the wonderful initiatives the United Way of Greater Topeka supports to help make our community amazing!”
George has been with THA for 11 years and leads a staff of 57 dedicated housing professionals. THA provides safe, decent, affordable housing for more than 5,000 low-income people. Part of THA’s mission is to successfully provide housing to the families they serve. THA creates and supports multiple different initiatives to increase that success in addition to providing basic housing.
Before joining THA, George worked in the financial services industry as branch manager and vice president. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Washburn University. He is active in the community and serves on many boards, and committees including the Kansas Housing Association, Apartment Council of Topeka, Topeka Rotary Foundation, United Way of Greater Topeka, and Housing Authority Insurance Group.
Lehnherr also announced a vice-chair, Lindsay Freeman, who will assist George for a year before stepping up to serve as Campaign Chair for the 2023-24 campaign. Freeman currently serves on UWGT’s Resource Development Committee and is the United Way Campaign Coordinator for her employer, Kansas Gas Service.
“I am so excited to serve as the Vice-Campaign Chair this year,” Freeman said. “United Way of Greater Topeka creates the sustainable change that is so very necessary to keep our community thriving. My goal is to help educate others about the many ways United Way positively impacts the community we live in.”
Freeman is the state manager of community relations for Kansas Gas Service (KGS), a division of ONEGas. She leads a team of community relations managers across the state who educate communities about the benefits of natural gas. Lindsay and her team award ONEGas Foundation grants and sponsorships to local organizations and nonprofits. Freeman joined KGS in June 2020.
A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Freeman is married to Aaron, a City of Topeka firefighter, and together they have four children. Freeman serves on several local boards and is a proud Rotarian. She is a member of Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2016 and also received the Leadership Greater Topeka Alumni “Rising Star” award. She has been a Top 20 under 40 award recipient and a YWCA Woman of Excellence nominee.
Outgoing Campaign Chair Patrick Woods was pleased to learn that George and Freeman would be following in his footsteps.
“It’s been my honor to serve as the Campaign Chair for the 2021-2022 annual campaign,” Woods said. “This year presented us with the challenge of recovering from the pandemic, and I’m thrilled to say United Way and our community rose to the occasion. Congratulations to Trey and Lindsay—I know you both will do a fantastic job and lead our campaign to new heights!”
Lehnherr is excited to have two seasoned United Way volunteers step forward to be the face and voice of the campaign. “We could not be any more excited for Trey and Lindsay’s leadership in this next year,” Lehnherr said. “As long-time community leaders, their passion and commitment on the campaign trail will be invaluable. Trey and Lindsay’s commitment to building a strong, healthy and equitable community is evident in all the ways they have supported United Way. Our campaign and our community will be stronger thanks to their leadership.”
The United Way Campaign Chair and Vice Chair represent United Way throughout the community and lend visibility to annual fundraising efforts. The 2022-2023 campaign begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2023. Individuals can donate through their workplace campaign or individually at GiveTopeka.org. Donations can also be mailed to the office at 1527 SW Fairlawn Rd., Topeka, KS 66604.
