After the dust, and water, settled Thursday afternoon, who won the United Way of Central Kansas water balloon fight between the Unified School District 428 administration and the Jefferson Elementary School staff is still being debated.

One thing was clear, it was good, clean fun for all involved. And, it called attention to the UWCK’s 2016 fundraising campaign now underway.

The friendly skirmish was the brain child of USD 428 Superintendent Brad Reed, said UWCK Executive Director Julie Bugner Smith. He said he would come to the school in the district with the best United Way participation and do some activity. 

Reed, along district Public Information Director Jennifer Schartz, have been instrumental in promoting United Way in USD 428. 

Paige Stegman is the Jefferson representative for United Way and was crucial for Jefferson winning the UW trophy for the 2015 campaign.

Now, the bar has been set, Smith said. During the 2016 campaign, Jefferson will try to defend their title, but Eisenhower was the first school to receive the trophy and along with the other schools are vying for bragging rights.

“It is a great way to have some fun and help the community at the same time,” Smith said. 

USD 428 is a United Way Pacesetter donor, she said. In other words, it was in the top 15 of giving to the annual drive. “Their staff sees daily the students that benefit from the agencies, and make our community a better place to live and work.”

United Way of Central Kansas supports 19 agencies in Barton and Pawnee counties.