Wiregrass United Way Kicks Off 2010 Pacesetter Campaign
This year’s Wiregrass United Way campaign is off to a
rousing start. Volunteers involved with the campaign as well as agency
representatives and coordinators from various area businesses were on hand for
the annual Pacesetter Kickoff event. The Boys and Girls Club of Dothan hosted
the event. They are one of the 38 local organizations who receive funds from
the Wiregrass United Way.
There are 99 area businesses getting a jump start on the
annual United Way campaign.Each
year a number of area businesses agree to conduct their campaign for the
Wiregrass United Way during the month of August.These businesses make up the Pacesetter campaign.
This year’s campaign is focusing on the fact that United Way
agencies help our communities 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The local
United Way has decided to call this the 24/7 campaign. The monetary goal for
this year also ties into this concept. The goal for this year is $2,472,472.47.
And if the organization is successful in raising this amount the Wiregrass
Foundation will contribute $400,000 for the Wiregrass United Way to distribute
to the agencies.
A special Pacesetter kickoff was held
on Tuesday, August 3rd. It was a motivated crowd of more than 150 who
heard from Shannon Vinyard, Chairman of the Wiregrass United Way Board of
Trustees and Walter Hill, Chief Executive Officer for the Wiregrass United Way.
They both stressed to those in
attendance the importance of supporting the Wiregrass United Way and the 38
agencies.
This year Shane Sinquefield is serving as the overall
campaign chairman. Working with him are the five county campaign chairs. They
are Blake Woodall, Coffee County; Teresa King, Dale County; Judson Brooks,
Geneva County; Ronnie Marshall, Henry County and Paul Lee, Houston County.
Pacesetters are vital to the success of the campaign.First of all, by having a Pacesetter
campaign it enables the Wiregrass United Way to stretch the campaign another
month but to do so on the front end.The United Way’s goal is to complete all area campaigns by the end of
October to avoid raising money during the holidays.In addition, by having a Pacesetter campaign there is
already a significant amount of money raised when the official campaign kickoff
is held on September 9th.
Area companies participating as Pacesetters are:
Coffee County:
American Red Cross, Becky Hancock Realty, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, CB&T, Christian
Mission Centers, City of Enterprise,Coffee County 4-H, Coffee County Family Services Center, Coffee County
Schools, Coldwell Banker Prestige Homes & Real Estate, Elba City Schools, Enterprise
City Schools, Enterprise YMCA, Kelley Foods of Alabama, Medical Center
Enterprise, Mitchell Hyundai, Mitchell Mazda Lincoln Mercury, Mitchell Nissan,
National Security Insurance, SunSouth Bank, Townsend Building Supply, Walmart
and Woodall’s Heating & Cooling.
Dale County: Boys & Girls Club of Ozark,
CB&T, City of Ozark, Dale County Schools, Frit Industries, Ozark City
Schools, Ozark-Dale County Public Library, Salvation Army, Vivian B. Adams
School and Walmart.
Geneva County: City
Bank of Hartford, Eagle Power Systems, Inc., East Geneva Senior Citizens
Center, First National Bank of Hartford, Friend Bank, Geneva City Schools, Geneva
County Family Resource Center, Geneva County Schools, HWT Energy, Inc., Lincoln
Fabrics, Reliable Products, Vinyard Technology and Walmart.
Henry County: City
of Abbeville, Headland National Bank, Henry County Schools, Living Waters
Counseling, Inc., Rushing Enterprises
Houston County: AAA
Cooper Transportation, Alabama Institute for the Deaf & Blind,Alfred Saliba Family Services
Center,American Red Cross, Ameris
Bank, BBVA – Compass Bank, Boy Scouts-Alabama-Florida Council, Boys & Girls
Clubs of the Wiregrass, Catholic Social Services, CB&T, City of Dothan, Coldwell
Banker Alfred Saliba Realty, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Dunbarton, Exchange
Center for Child Abuse Prevention, Farley Nuclear Plant and IBEW 796, Flowers
Insurance Agency, Girls Inc.,Hawk-Houston Boys & Girls Club, Houston County, Insurance Center of
the Southeast, Jackson Thornton, Knology, Lewis-Smith Supply, McDaniel &
Associates, Personnel Resources/PR Employer, Regions Bank, Salvation Army, Servis1st
Bank, Southeast Alabama Gas District, Southeast Alabama Medical Center,
Spectracare, SunSouth Bank, The House of Ruth, Troy University Dothan Campus, UPS,
UPS Freight, Vaughn-Blumberg Services, Wallace Community College, Walmart, Wiregrass
Area United Way Food Bank, Wiregrass United Way 2-1-1, Wiregrass United Way,
Wiregrass Habitat for Humanity, Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center and WTVY-TV.
The Wiregrass United Way has served the Wiregrass area since
1938, currently funding 38 member agencies serving Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry
and Houston counties.Funds raised
by Wiregrass United Way are utilized locally in the five county area.A committee of local volunteers
determines how the funds are distributed among the member agencies.For more information call (334) 792-9661.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP?
For the Wiregrass United Way Day of Action 2009, we need YOU to show
our members of Congress how important 2-1-1 is to the Wiregrass by
contacting them and asking that they cosponsor S.2-1-1/H.R. 211.
As a volunteer or supporter of the Wiregrass United Way, you have probably heard about 2-1-1, an easy to remember telephone number that connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. Maybe you helped to spread the word about 2-1-1 on last year's Day of Action. Well today, for this year's Wiregrass United Way Day of Action, we will again be helping to raise awareness of 2-1-1--but this time, among our elected officials.
To ensure that 2-1-1 continues to be excellent, everywhere and always, we want our members of Congress in Washington, D.C. to pass the Calling for 2-1-1 Act (S.211/H.R.211), a bill that will "facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on human services and volunteer services, and for other purposes."
WHAT YOU CAN DO on June 22nd (TODAY!)
For the Wiregrass United Way Day of Action 2009, we need YOU to show our members of Congress how important 2-1-1 is to the Wiregrass by contacting them and asking that they cosponsor S.2-1-1/H.R. 211.
A quick telephone call or e-mail is all it takes! Here is the information you need to share with them:
1. Make sure you give your name, state that you are a constituent, and that you are calling/writing about 2-1-1;
2. Ask the Member to cosponsor the Calling for 2-1-1 Act (S.211 in the Senate and H.R.211 in the House of Representatives);
3. Thank the staff/Member for their time and consideration.
CONTACT INFO FOR YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS:
You may either leave a telephone message or visit each member's website to leave an e-mail. Either way, it's super easy!
It's that easy to show your support of 2-1-1! All it takes is a phone call or an e-mail today to do your part to help 2-1-1 provide help and information more efficiently and effectively!!
RICHARD SHELBY
U.S. Senator
(202) 224-5744
shelby.senate.gov
JEFF SESSIONS
U.S. Senator
(202) 224-4124
BOBBY BRIGHT
U.S. Representative
(202) 255-2901
bright.house.gov
Last year volunteers from WUW were out in our community spreading the word about 2-1-1 in the Wiregrass. Now we have an opportunity to help spread the word nationwide! View photos from last year's Day of Action.
Find out more about 2-1-1 Legislation by clicking here.
