For the second consecutive year, the Wiregrass United Way has reached their annual fund raising goal.
Sen. Harri Anne Smith, Wiregrass Campaign Chairperson, made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, December 29th at the local United Way office. Smith was joined at the press conference by numerous United Way board members, campaign volunteers, and agency representatives from throughout the Wiregrass.
Earlier this year the goal was set at $2.23 million by the volunteer leadership of the Wiregrass United Way. As of December 29th the organization had raised $2,235,731. The actual campaign will officially close on Friday, January 7, 2005. All pledges must be in by that date to count in this year's campaign.
Sen. Smith credited the dedicated volunteers and staff for their hard work over the past several months. "Each of the five counties that make up the Wiregrass United Way had strong leadership for the campaign. They all said back in August that we would make the goal and they all worked hard to get us to this point," she added.
The county campaign chairs were Jeff Brannon of Medical Center Enterprise, Coffee County; Rep. Steve Clouse of Clouse Marketing, Dale County; David Snell, Superintendent of Geneva County Schools, Geneva County; Lester Killebrew of Henry Farm Center, Henry County and Mike Schmitz of Mike Schmitz Automotive Group, Houston County.
There were also numerous volunteers throughout the area that served as Loaned Executives and Campaign Coordinators. The Wiregrass United Way has a small staff with only six employees for the five county area. The Loaned Executives are especially critical to the success of the campaign. This year's Loaned Executives were:
Charlie Breedlove - SouthTrust Bank; Cyndi Brockett - Bradford Health Systems; Tony Bridges - Covan World-Wide Moving, Inc.; John Brown - Regions Bank; Gary Bruce - DRS Weather Systems; Sherri Collins - Movie Gallery; Jennifer Doherty - CenturyTel; Chad Dykes - MidSouth Bank; Andy Franklin - HealthSouth; Lesa Hatfield - Wiregrass Medical Center; Daniel Howell - Whatley-Darty Real Estate; Sean Ingram - McDaniel & Associates; Charles Jenkins - Michelin; Paige Keel - WTVY News 4; Bo Loyd - Movie Gallery; Karen Loftin - Colonial Bank; Alicia Lokey - WTVY News 4; Mandy Ludlam - Farley Nuclear Plant; Teri Parker - Unicel; Rosie Ray - Buffalo Rock Pepsi; Dante Rogers - Perdue Farms; Keith Saulsberry - Wallace Community College; Amber Schiavone - Unicel; Bill Shelton - City of Enterprise; Valerie Shelton - AAA Cooper Transportation; Janice Shepard-Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce; Ernest Smith - McLane and Missy Wright - Dale Medical Center
Walter Hill, CEO for the Wiregrass United Way thanked the many volunteers who spent numerous hours assisting with the campaign. "It takes a lot of people working together toward a common goal to achieve a level of this magnitude," Hill stated. "We could never have reached this milestone without the dedication of so many people. On behalf of the thousands of Wiregrass residents who will benefit from the programs and services provided by the agencies we say thank you."
Sen. Smith also pointed out that it is important that both individuals and companies that have not yet mailed in their contribution do so. "These United Way agencies need those dollars to accomplish valuable work in our communities. It is not too late to participate," she stressed to those who have not yet pledged.
The Wiregrass United Way has served the Wiregrass Area since 1938 currently funding 36 member agencies in Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston Counties. Funds raised by the 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 792-9661.