As William Corder passed the torch to a new United Way of Lowndes County president Thursday, he reminded contributors how far-reaching their gifts are.
While they receive a report on how many individuals are helped by United Way agencies, what they may not see is the faces of those hundreds of people who are helped by United Way agencies, Corder said, at the agency”s annual luncheon on Thursday.
Lynn Atkins was installed as the new president of the United Way board of directors at the meeting, held at the First United Methodist Church. Atkins, like Corder, sees the United Way as a way to contribute to one avenue and offer wide-spread help.
“I see the United Way as an agency with the feet and hands to do what we do not have the time or the resources to do,” Corder said.
“The value of your United Way dollar is far greater than you can imagine,” Atkins, “touching the lives of people in our community you may never meet, but who are grateful that you cared enough to support local agencies that have changed their lives for the better.”
United Way campaigns have raised more than $500,000 toward the agency”s goal of $600,000, Atkins reported.
The agency gave Pinnacle Awards to groups raising $10,000 or more, and Excellence Awards for those raising $5,000-$9,999. The agency also presented Community Matters Awards for campaigns raising $1,000-$4,999 and Community Spirit Awards for campaigns rising up to $1,000.
Advocate Awards were presented to The Commercial Dispatch, WCBI Television, University Management, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, CableOne, WLZA Radio, The Columbus Packet and Cumulus for helping to get the word out about the United Way and its mission.
Heroes of Hope Awards were presented to Susan Bell and Tammy Stewart. Bell, United Way board member, allocations co-chair and outgoing communications chair, received the President”s Choice Heroes of Hope Award.
Stewart received the Campaign Coordinator of the Year Heroes of Hope Award for increasing the Golden Triangle Mill Service”s campaign by 306 percent.
TOP UNITED WAY FUNDRAISERS
Jan Ballard, executive director of the United Way of Lowndes County, presented the following top awards to entities participating in campaigns this year:
PINNACLE AWARDS (Raised $10,000 or more)
Columbus Municipal School District (more than $80,000)
Omnova Solutions Inc.
Weyerhaeuser Columbus Cellulose Fiber
Anonymous
Cadence Bank
Trustmark Bank
Holcim Inc.
Microtek Medical Inc., an Ecolab Company
Paccar
Baldor Electric Company
Severstal
Ceco Building Systems
Mississippi University for Women
Lowndes County Government
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle
Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation
EXCELLENCE AWARDS (Raised $5,000-$9,999)
Metso Paper Columbus Service Center
Sanderson Plumbing Products
Belk
Weitzenhoffer/Seminole Foundation
Herman & Hazel Owen Foundation
4-County Electric Power Association
T. E. Lott & Company
American Eurocopter
Weyerhaeuser Columbus Modified Fiber
Janesville Acoustics
Regions Bank
Burkhalter Rigging
Tennessee Valley Authority
Columbus Scrap Materials
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