(CENTREVILLE) – September 28 serves as a special day in the history of the St. Joseph County United Way.

On September 28, 1998 the newly formed St. Joseph County United Way hired Kelly Hostetler to be the Executive Director. The United Way was created out of a merger of the Sturgis United Fund and the Western St. Joseph County Community Chest.

Hostetler says she was working for NIBCO in Elkhart when she was first introduced to the United Way. LINKC.

Hostetler says she ran into a former school mate who planted a seed. LINKD.

The first Capital Campaign raised $275,000. Hostetler says this year, the United Way will once again raise over $1 million. She says it’s not about the money raised, but the number of people that money has helped.