The United Way 365 Small Business Giving Program is designed for smaller organizations that want to be a part of the United Way network, but may not have the resources to run a full-blown workplace campaign. For as little as a dollar a day, small business owners join a circle of individuals working every day to strengthen our community. 

How long has your business been in operation?

Our business has been in operation for over 38 years.

What services does your business provide?

We provide several avenues of insurance and financial planning options.

What do you enjoy most about working for a small business?

It is a business with a family atmosphere. Everyone that works here truly cares about one another and our clients. It’s nice to work for a business where everyone enjoys coming to work each day.

What do you love most about this community?

What I enjoy most about this community is the optimism and support it has for small businesses and organizations.

Why do you choose to support your community through United Way?

I choose to support the community through United Way because the 365 campaign allows me to give directly to our community.

The United Way 365 Small Business Giving Program is designed for smaller organizations that want to be a part of the United Way network, but may not have the resources to run a full-blown workplace campaign. For as little as a dollar a day, small business owners join a circle of individuals working every day to strengthen our community. 

How long has your business been in operation?

SOTO Property Solutions has been in business for nine years.

What services does your business provide?

SOTO Property Solutions assists real estate investors in achieving their goals with real estate whatever those goals may be.  SOTO Property Solutions specializes in the forward planning and management of clients rental property and is dedicated to the clients they serve.  SOTO Property Solutions is a full service property management company providing services such as collecting rent, assuring landscaping is kept clean, coordinates all interior and exterior maintenance and repairs and plans and coordinates all capital improvements for clients’ properties.  SOTO Property Solutions also helps clients with buying and selling real estate to improve their portfolio. 

As a landlord, SOTO Property Solutions works with tenants to ensure a satisfactory experience.  We start by listing all our vacancies on our website with pictures along with all the details consumers are looking for.  The application and move in process are smooth.  Once a tenant with us, we answer maintenance issues in a timely manner, have an emergency phone line so tenants can even reach us during non-business hours and tenants can conveniently submit maintenance requests and rent payments online

What do you enjoy most about being a small business owner?

Zig Ziglar says, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough people get what they want.”  Being a small business owner gives us the chance to do just that. Being a small business, we have the freedom and flexibility to work with our customers to meet their unique needs.  It’s very rewarding to help people reach their goals.

What do you love most about this community?

Being relatively a newcomer to Southeast Missouri, it has been amazing how friendly and supportive people are.  It didn’t take long to build relationships with fellow business people. 

Why do you choose to support your community through United Way?

I support United Way because of their reputation and the broad reach and knowledge of the needs of Southeast Missouri.  I could contribute directly to an individual charity, but going through United Way, I know the money is going to the best programs out there.

The United Way 365 Small Business Giving Program is designed for smaller organizations that want to be a part of the United Way network, but may not have the resources to run a full-blown workplace campaign. For as little as a dollar a day, small business owners join a circle of individuals working every day to strengthen our community. 

How long has your business been in operation?

One year.

What services does your business provide?

Social media management, graphic design, smartphone notification services (reach), target audience advertising, video production, and business marketing and consulting.

What do you enjoy most about being a small business owner?

I love the opportunity to help other small businesses succeed by utilizing our social media platform with our audience of 65,000+.

What do you love most about this community?

What I love most about this community is how willing people are to help each other. Our growing populace never fails to come together for those in need.

Why do you choose to support your community through United Way?

Because together, we can make lives around us better.

You’ve probably heard a United Way representative mention, “money raised here stays here.” As a member of a global organization, we take pride in being able to invest 99% of funds raised right back into Southeast Missouri. It’s something that’s important to us as stewards of your money and for you as a donor to be aware of as you choose where to invest your hard earned dollars.

While this transparency and stewardship is important to all donors, those who give through the workplace and those who give individually, we want to take the time to recognize one group of donors who take the term, “keeping it local” to heart: our small businesses.

They line the streets of downtown Cape Girardeau, can be found staggered around uptown Jackson and wrap around the Perryville square. There’s no question that locally owned businesses are a vital part of our region. As an organization focused on strengthening Southeast Missouri, we find it important to create an easy, worthwhile giving platform for business owners to support the community that continues to support them.

The United Way 365 Small Business Giving Program is designed for smaller organizations that want to be a part of the United Way network, but may not have the resources to run a full-blown workplace campaign. For as little as a dollar a day, small business owners join a circle of individuals working every day to strengthen our community.

Just $1 for 365 days can…

• Provide transportation for 20 individuals seeking employment.
• Supply tutoring materials for 52 struggling students.
• Assist senior citizens unable to manage it on their own with checkbook management, bill writing, and other paperwork.
• Provide one family with desperately needed hygiene items for a year.
• Give a book per month to 8 low-income families, frequently providing the only books they will have to build lifelong literacy for their children.

Additionally, businesses who commit to the 365 Giving Program will be spotlighted on United Way social media pages and on our blog. Your company logo will also appear on the Small Business page of our website to demonstrate your support. Finally, we’ll do a small business raffle at our Community Celebration in April, where one lucky business will win a $500 advertising package sponsored by River Radio!

Join us in promoting lasting, positive change. We invite all small business owners to invest in their community and future workforce by joining the United Way 365 Small Business Giving Program. It may be one of the smartest investments you make and yield the greatest return!

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Kristin Funderburk at 573-334-9634 or via email.

1. How long has your business been in operation?

We have had our business for 68 years.

2. What services does your business provide?

We provide retail home furnishings, mattresses, and home accessories, as well as having interior design services.

3. What do you enjoy most about being a small business owner?

We enjoy the personal touch we are able to provide to our customers. We are able to work with the customers on a one to one level and get to know them by name/family. People become friends and come back often. Also, as small business owners, we are able to make our own decisions in regard to the business without having to go up a chain of command.

4. What do you love most about this community?

The community has a small town feel, with all the big city conveniences. People in our community come together when others need help and they are willing to donate their time, their materials, and their labor to get the job done. The community is family oriented and you can get to know people as individuals and not just acquaintances or customers.  

5. Why do you choose to support your community through United Way?

We choose to donate to the United Way for their continued and constant support of those who are in need in our community. They are diversified in their aspects of support from children to the elderly and help with whatever a person needs and can help point them in the direction that they need/want to go. The United Way of Southeast Missouri is community based, with our support being used right in our area and the volunteers that help give their time, help and support where needed.

1. How long has your business been in operation?

Cape Girardeau ServPro has been in operation for 22 years.

2. What services does your business provide?

Our business provides fire, smoke and water damage, carpet cleaning, and duct cleaning. Basically anytime type of cleaning we can do.  We also work closely with the Police department when they need us. 

3. What do you enjoy most about being a small business owner?

The opportunity to help people when they are in a time of need.  Helping people when they have disasters, large or small, gives us a great satisfaction.  Our job is to make it “Like it never even happened.”  We can’t always succeed but we try.

4. What do you love most about this community?

The community is friendly and welcoming.  It is definitely civic minded and is willing to give where ever it is needed. 

5. Why do you choose to support your community through United Way?

The United Way helps so many different organizations that help our community.  It is a great way to give back to the area that has been so willing to help others without having to give to all the individual groups.  We feel that our business OWES the community because they have the faith in us when they need help so we try to give back when we can.

1.    How long has your business been in operation?

 Shivelbine’s Music store has been in operation for 65 years!

2.    What services does your business provide?

We sell, rent, and service a large variety of musical instruments.

3.    What do you enjoy most about being a small business owner?

I love being able to work with the family and also the employees.

4.    What do you love the most about this community?

 I absolutely love Downtown Cape!

5.    Why do you choose to support your community through the United Way?

 The community has supported Shivelbine’s Music for 65 years so this is us giving back to the community.

1.    How long has your business been in operation?

Service Master has been in operation since July 1st, 1986. 

2.    What services does your business provide?

At Service Master we provide Fire, Water, Mold, Wind Storm Emergency Service and full cleaning and construction services: Residential Cleaning  services, Commercial Janitorial, and Project cleaning services.

3.    What do you enjoy most about being a small business owner?

I enjoy the freedom and independence to do things my way, to lead the staff to do things the right way.

4.     What do you love most about this community?

I like the small town atmosphere, knowing a wide range of business owners and doing business with people who have the same small town values as I have.  

5.    Why do you choose to support your community through United Way?

 The United Way does or has supported many of the same organizations I have volunteered my time to help in the past 28 years that I have lived in the Cape/Jackson area.

1.    How long has your business been in operation?

1^st Class Travel has been in a part of the Cape Girardeau community for 18 years.

2.    What services does your business provide?

At 1^st Class Travel we provide planning and booking options for every type of traveler. We can help you plan full vacations to top destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as Cruises and Disney World vacations. We also specialize in travel abroad and have the tools to provide our clients with one-of-a-kind experiences. We also work with many corporate accounts to assist with their business travel needs.

3.    What do you enjoy most about being a small business owner?

Vacations are so important to many families and whether it is money, vacation time, or crazy schedules, they work tirelessly to be able to take one. I don’t like seeing anyone’s hard work go to waste, which is why I love being able to make decisions that help our clients have the vacation of their dreams. I am proud to own a business that focuses on customer service and getting to know our clients to ensure that everyone gets the amazing experience they deserve.

4.     What do you love most about this community?

What I love most about this community is the way we can come together. Through the good and bad, we always manage to rally together to make this area somewhere we can all be proud to call home.  

5.    Why do you choose to support your community through United Way?
I chose to support our community through the United Way because what is a community if we are not united? Every United Way funded partner has a direct effect on our community; from teaching our youth (essentially the future of our community) to assisting those who need help getting back up on their feet and strengthening our community. When you choose to Live United, you are saying that you believe in this community and its future and we, at 1st Class Travel, do.