Meg Hooper Pearson- CEO/Executive Director

Director Meg Hooper Pearson has been with the organization for seven years. In that time she has successfully increased the organization’s revenues by 46%.  In addition, she has recruited, trained and retained 100s of general volunteers, skilled volunteers, STEM Mentors, board members and Campaign Loaned Executives. Ms. Pearson, a former Development Director and Public Relations Associate for the Northeast Region of Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters (KSBBBS), has 13 years of professional experience with fund development and volunteer program oversight. During her seven years with KSBBBS she helped start-up three new KSBBBS affiliate agencies and was responsible for regional grant writing, public relations, strategic planning and board development.

You may contact Ms. Pearson by emailing her at united.way.of.franklin.co@gmail.com or calling her cell phone (816) 529-8959.

Leigh Hanson- Director of Volunteer Engagement

Leigh Hanson has been with United Way for three years and is also a 26-year veteran educator. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education. She has taught in public and private schools as well as home educating her own children for many years.

In addition to her time with United Way, she is currently serving part-time as the Art Education Program Director for the Ottawa Community Arts Council where she teaches kids’ art classes each week. She enjoys community outreach and working with both adults and children through United Way’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Mentoring program, the STEM United Youth Project, as well as through church and ECKAN volunteerism. She is the mother of six children:  two in college, three at Ottawa High School and one at Ottawa Middle School.  She, her husband Jerad, and children reside at a small farm here in Franklin County.

You may contact Mrs. Hanson by emailing her at stemunitedyouth@gmail.com or calling her cell phone (913) 226-8607.