The United Way of Douglas County today announced that Debbie and Richard Konzem will be the 2006-2007 campaign co-chairs.

The Konzems, of Lawrence, will be involved with key strategic planning for the annual fund-raising campaign.

They will select campaign cabinet members to help with the duties of organizing the countywide fall fund raising event and act as United Way representatives at major campaign events.

Both Konzems are native Kansans and have undergraduate degrees from Kansas University. Debbie (Vignatelli) also has a master’s degree in human resources from Ottawa University and is vice president -Kansas for AT&T.

Richard has a master’s degree in sports administration from the University of Southern California and works as a consultant in college athletics for universities across the country as president of Championship Consulting.

In a joint statement, the Konzems said, “Because of tremendous leadership and generosity in the past, Douglas County is a better place to live today. For future generations, it is our responsibility to build on this legacy of helping people; not by providing a handout or a free ride, but by providing a chance. The successful outcomes provided by United Way agencies are the result of a strong and caring community.

“Support of the United Way and its member agencies enhances the quality of life for all citizens of Douglas County. United Way agencies work tirelessly to improve the lives of thousands of local residents. The United Way umbrella provides an efficient and accountable method to fund the social service agencies in our community.

“As the population of our community continues to grow, so do the number of people served by United Way agencies. Our changing world also presents the need to address new challenges by exploring new programs and services. The United Way leadership takes its responsibilities seriously through constant evaluation of program effectiveness, planning for future needs and accountability for the use of donations to assure that your gift truly matters.

“As campaign chairs, we are pleased to be a small part of the United Way effort. We will work to tell the United Way story, increase the number of donors and increase the amount of donations to improve the quality of life for everyone in Douglas County. Thanks to all United Way donors for your continued support and to member agencies for your service.”