Meet our 2022-23 Campaign Leaders
At our summer leadership investor gathering, CEO Jessica Lehnherr introduced UWGT board member Trey George as our next Campaign Chair. Trey is the President and CEO of the Topeka Housing Authority (THA). THA’s Pine Ridge neighborhood is home to the Pine Ridge Prep Preschool and the Pine Ridge Partnership. UWGT has invested in the preschool since its founding a decade ago.
Trey's long relationship with United Way makes him a perfect fit as Campaign Chair. “My friends and colleagues at United Way know how passionate I am about helping people and how strongly I believe in our community," he said. "I am honored to be able to share with the community all the wonderful initiatives the United Way of Greater Topeka supports to help make our community amazing!”
Trey has been with THA for 11 years and leads a staff of 57 dedicated housing professionals. THA provides safe, decent, affordable housing for more than 5,000 low-income people. Part of THA’s mission is to successfully provide housing to the families they serve. THA creates and supports multiple different initiatives to increase that success in addition to providing basic housing.
Before joining THA, George worked in the financial services industry as branch manager and vice president. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Washburn University. He is active in the community and serves on many boards, and committees including the Kansas Housing Association, Apartment Council of Topeka, Topeka Rotary Foundation, United Way of Greater Topeka, and Housing Authority Insurance Group.
Jessica also announced a vice-chair, Lindsay Freeman, who will assist Trey for a year before stepping up to serve as Campaign Chair for the 2023-24 campaign. Lindsay currently serves on UWGT’s Resource Development Committee and is the United Way Campaign Coordinator for her employer, Kansas Gas Service.
“I am so excited to serve as the Vice-Campaign Chair this year,” Lindsay said. “United Way of Greater Topeka creates the sustainable change that is so very necessary to keep our community thriving. My goal is to help educate others about the many ways United Way positively impacts the community we live in.”
Lindsay is the state manager of community relations for Kansas Gas Service (KGS), a division of ONEGas. She leads a team of community relations managers across the state who educate communities about the benefits of natural gas. Lindsay and her team award ONEGas Foundation grants and sponsorships to local organizations and nonprofits. She joined KGS in June 2020.
A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Lindsay is married to Aaron, a City of Topeka firefighter, and together they have four children. She serves on several local boards and is a proud Rotarian. She is a member of Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2016 and also received the Leadership Greater Topeka Alumni “Rising Star” award. She has been a Top 20 under 40 award recipient and a YWCA Woman of Excellence nominee.
Outgoing Campaign Chair Patrick Woods was pleased to learn that George and Freeman would be following in his footsteps.
“It’s been my honor to serve as the Campaign Chair for the 2021-2022 annual campaign,” Patrick said. “This year presented us with the challenge of recovering from the pandemic, and I’m thrilled to say United Way and our community rose to the occasion. Congratulations to Trey and Lindsay—I know you both will do a fantastic job and lead our campaign to new heights!”
The United Way Campaign Chair and Vice Chair represent United Way throughout the community and lend visibility to annual fundraising efforts. The 2022-2023 campaign begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2023. Individuals can donate through their workplace campaign or individually at GiveTopeka.org. Donations can also be mailed to the office at 1527 SW Fairlawn Rd., Topeka, KS 66604.