United Way of Central Oklahoma will kick off its 2015-16 campaign with a free pancake breakfast at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2015. The event is open to the public.

The Kickoff celebration is held each September to official begin the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s fundraising campaign as well as the central Oklahoma Combined Federal Campaign, the State Charitable Campaign, and the Heart of the City Campaigns. Campaigns run through November 20.

The United Way’s campaign raises money to support 127 programs in five focus areas—strong families, successful kids, healthy citizens, independent living, and community preparedness—that are administered by 61 Partner Agencies, striving to improve lives in our community. For a list of Partner Agencies, click here.

Through this year’s space themed campaign, United Way invites people to “Love Your Community to the Moon and Back” through contributions via their United Way workplace campaigns, individual giving and the contribution of their time and effort by volunteering for community projects.

“The kickoff event is one way we help bring people together to rally for the betterment of our community and to be exposed to the good work our Partner Agencies are doing,” said Debby Hampton, President and CEO, United Way of Central Oklahoma. “Every year, thousands of generous donors respond to the needs of our community through their support of this fundraising effort.”

The Kickoff celebration will include the announcement of the Pacesetter’s campaign results, 2015 United Way Loaned Executive Class, community leaders who serve as United Way’s Celebrity Chefs, and this year’s Pancake Flipping Contestants.

Essential to the success of the Campaign, United Way’s Loaned Executives are employees borrowed from other companies, the federal government, and the city government for 12 weeks to work at United Way on the fundraising campaign for the United Way of Central Oklahoma campaign, the Combined Federal Campaign, the State Charitable Campaign, and the Heart of the City Campaign. Because they continue to be paid by their regular employer, they help keep administrative costs down allowing donor contributions to go directly to the needs of our community.

The United Way Celebrity Chefs are community leaders and local celebrities who volunteer to cook complimentary pancakes on griddles for attending guests. This year’s Celebrity Chefs preparing the pancake breakfast Include: City Manager Jim Couch, Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Reese, City Councilman Meg Sayer, Carl Edwards, Price Edwards & Company, Mark Funke, Bank SNB, Dave Carpenter, American Fidelity, and many more. Food will be served starting at 7:30 a.m.

To raise the stakes, there will be a Pancake Flipping Contest with several Celebrity Chefs competing for the coveted United Way Golden Spatula Award following the presentation of our national colors and Pledge of Allegiance by the Boys Scouts of America Troop 1101 from KIPP Reach College Preparatory beginning at 8 a.m. Contestants include: Chief Bill Citty of the Oklahoma City Police Department, Rumble the Bison of Oklahoma City Thunder, Brix of the Oklahoma City Dodgers, Kent Ogle of KFOR Channel 4, and Alex Cameron of News 9.

To make a contribution to the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s campaign, call 405-236-GIVE or give online.