Officers of the United Way of Lowndes County kicked off an annual corporate fundraising campaign Thursday at the Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle Outpatient Pavilion.
Over breakfast with a roomful of local businessmen and women, Pacesetters Campaign Chairman Stewart Stafford announced the start of the yearly Pacesetters campaign raise money for the charitable organization”s initiatives.
“The definitions of a pacesetter include: exemplar, good example, model and something to be imitated,” Stafford said. “Another definition reads, ”A person or group regarded as being a leader in any field and one whom others may emulate.””
Pacesetters, which is the first leg of the annual United Way of Lowndes County funding campaign, will continue through Sept. 3. Results will be announced at a luncheon at the Trotter Convention Center on Sept. 9.
Stafford encouraged the assembled community members to set that example for others who may not have given during previous campaigns.
“Your good names and your efforts may encourage others who have not participated in the past to join our campaign, which kicks off in the fall,” he said.
Stafford also thanked everyone for their involvement and dedication to the organization.
“It really is an honor to work with these people who get up in the morning with a burning desire to go out and make our community a better place,” he said.
Lynn Atkins, the chairwoman of United Way”s entire annual funding campaign, which will run through Thanksgiving, added that any amount business can give will go to helping local residents who are in need.
“Your contribution, no matter how large or small will make a real difference in the coming year,” she said.
The United Way officers showed a DVD that touched on many of the charity”s services including crisis intervention, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, the Contact Helpline and the various youth activities it supports such as 4H, the Boys and Girls Club, the Girl Scouts of Mississippi and the Boy Scouts of America.
With local volunteers and supporters, the United Way serves more than 17,000 people in Lowndes County, according to statistics released by Jo Ellen James, the chapter”s public relations agent.
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