Mark Your Calendars!

Special Events Meeting
Tuesday, March 3o, 2010
United Way Office @ 10 a.m.

Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday, April 15, 2010
United Way Office @ 8 a.m.

Volunteers Needed
Visit our volunteer center to learn more about volunteer opportunities in your area and sign up to volunteer.

United Way of Lowndes County
Agencies & Programs
American Red Cross
Boys and Girls Club
Boy Scouts (Pushmataha Council)
Columbus AFB Youth Center
Community Resource Connection
Community Volunteer Center
CONTACT Helpline
Dial-a-Bus
Four H Clubs of Lowndes County
Girl Scouts of Northeast MS
Greater Columbus Learning Center
Helping Hands
Home Delivered Meals
Recovery House
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
The Salvation Army
YMCA

Community Outreach Programs
Charity Tracker
Summer Fan Drive
USPS/United Way Food Drive
Disaster Relief & Recovery Assistance
Lowndes County Home Repair Initiative
Community-Wide Blood Drive
School Supply Drive
Prescription Discount Cards
Emergency Food & Shelter Block Grant
Community Volunteer Center
Adopt a Family Christmas Program
Share One
AmeriCorp VISTA Program

2010-2011 Board of Directors
Marilyn Agnew
Lynn Atkins
Susan Bell
Steven Black
John Bowen
Amber Murphree Brislin
Kathy Brown
Dr. Gary Bouse
Roger Burlingame
Whirllie Byrd
Paul Cade
Rodger Cohan
Beth Cook
Bryant Cook
Will Cooper
William Corder
John Davis
Learnard Dickerson
John Dowdle
Dennis Erby
Scott Ferguson
Brandt Galloway
Gwen Granderson
Sarah Heinkel
Jason Heleniak
James Hrusovsky
Deborah Junkin
Frances Jutman
George Kerekes
Brenda Lathan
Stuart Phillips
Beth Robinson
Scott Singley
Kevin Stafford
Greg Stewart
James Tsminakis
Leslie Watkins
Jim Wilson

United Way Staff
Janice Ballard, Executive Director
Michelle Avant, Office Manager
Frances Tucker, Receptionist
Meagan Coughlin, Project Coordinator
Janie Shields, AmeriCorp VISTA

Give to the United Way.
Contribute today by calling 328-0943!

                        WHAT'S NEW FOR SPRING?

Lowndes United Way makes gains during down economy
        by Jason Browne from The Commecial Dispatch

It was a good year for the United Way of Lowndes County.

Despite a sluggish economy, the 55-year-old community service umbrella organization managed to raise $20,000 more than last year’s campaign total, and Allocation Chair Stewart Stafford says it will provide near-level funding to its 18 nonprofit agencies. But money is only half the story, so the United Way threw a party Wednesday to thank its better half.

With a full house in attendance at First United Methodist Church’s Artz Fellowship Hall, the United Way’s 2010 annual meeting honored the individuals, businesses, companies and organizations that helped raise $505,000 for its 2010 campaign, more than 84 percent of its $600,000 goal.

“We feel like our companies really stepped to the plate,” said Jan Ballard, executive director of the United Way of Lowndes County. “Employees were very gracious in digging in their pockets to ensure our agencies are able to continue their work in the community.”

To show its appreciation, the United Way handed out awards and certificates to more than 50 businesses and organizations. It also extended a special thank you to an exclusive few individuals.

Volunteer of the Year

The Volunteer of the Year award, generally reserved for an outstanding individual, instead went to an outstanding sub-community of the larger Lowndes County community: Columbus Air Force Base.

Col. Roger Watkins, Wing Commander at CAFB, was on hand to accept the award on behalf of the base. He says the support the base receives from the community is so overwhelming, the base feels compelled to return the favor whenever possible.

“Essentially it is us being able to take, literally, hundreds of people that want to get involved in the community and volunteer their time and effort and getting the resources out to those opportunities,” said Watkins.

President’s choice

Another community, of sorts, played a huge role in the United Way’s campaign, thanks in large part to the enthusiasm of one volunteer. Marilyn Agnew, administrative assistant to Columbus High School Principal Craig Shannon, was the driving force behind the Columbus Municipal School District’s campaign drive which raised $73,000 for the United Way. Agnew was honored with the President’s Choice Award.

“The (CMSD’s) campaign has increased from a few thousand dollars six years ago to more than $73,000 this year,” said Stafford while introducing Agnew. “Her enthusiasm and compassion has touched the district’s staff.”

Individual awards also went out to Deborah Junkin of American Eurocopter, who took Campaign Coordinator of the Year honors, and Severstal CEO James Hrusovsky, who was named Campaign CEO of the Year.

Business awards

Domtar, which is scheduled to close operations in April, and Severstal were among 11 businesses, including given a Pinnacle Award for raising more than $10,000 during its company wide campaign. Sixteen organizations received Excellence Awards for raising more than $5,000.

Although the United Way raised nearly $60,000 less than its 2008 total, Ballard credits volunteers and campaigners with salvaging a year which easily could have been much worse. But for United Way agencies to continue serving the citizens of Lowndes County, the manpower has to return year after year.

“I hope our volunteers will help us spread the word about the important work of our organizations. Those (volunteers) who have a part in the allocation process and volunteers with our agencies are very important. From youth programs to helping people who are struggling to eat a meal or buy prescription medication, there’s just a broad range of services our agencies provide to our community,” she said.

The voice of volunteers

Volunteers at the awards luncheon also were quick to praise the United Way for the opportunity to serve their brothers and sisters in the community.

“They give me an opportunity when I’m trying to do some things to get out of myself and give back,” said Ashley Collins of Hattiesburg, the manager of Little Caesar’s Pizza in Columbus.

Mildred Neal of Columbus says volunteering helps her “feel like I’ve contributed a great part of me to my community.”

Future United Way volunteers will have a new face to work with in the near future when Community Volunteer Center Coordinator Meagan Coughlin leaves to take over marketing and public relations for the CPI Group in Columbus.

“It’s a bittersweet moment for me because the United Way has done so much for me in the past five years,” said Coughlin. “I started as a fledgling college grad, new to the game, and they helped me become a professional and meet so many people. I owe everything to the United Way.”

New officers

More change was on tap during Wednesday’s meeting as new United Way officers took their positions. Outgoing Board President Dennis Erby said his year at the head of the table was marked by thorough cooperation.

“Being an African-American and the first one to have held this position, I’m elated about the fact of how well we worked together and how many things we were able to accomplish,” he said. “It just goes to show that when people put their minds together to work together, they can. We worked together for the betterment of the community.”

William Corder will take over as board president. Erby will remain on the board.

Read the article on cdipsatch.com.

Share One
United Way of Lowndes County partnered with Columbus Light and Water for the Share One program. Share One is a program to help those in need due to temporary hardship or misfortune that may need financial assistance with their utility bill. Columbus Light and Water is providing their customers the option to contribute to the Share One program through their utility bill. This is an ongoing process and customers may sign up at anytime.

How does it work?
Customers can call to request and application or visit CL&W to sign up. CL&W needs signed authorization to give authority to charge customer accounts. Specify the dollar amount you would like to give each month. We are only asking for one dollar per month. The amount will be added to your utility bill each month. You may also make a one-time contribution.

Where does the money go?
Your contribution will be placed in a special account with the Columbus Light and Water. Funds from this account will be available in voucher form for those in need. Helping Hands will screen and recommend individuals and families with financial need to Columbus Light and Water. Recipients will present vouchers to Columbus Light and Water and the amount will be applied to their bill.

Where do you get help?
Those needing help must contact Helping Hands at 328.8301 to get more information on the vouchers.

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New to United Way - Online Giving!

United Way of Lowndes County recently teamed up with United Way of America to offer you an easy, safe way to support our network of care. To donate online and begin helping your neighbor in Lowndes County, please click on the link below!

United Way is registered with the Better Business Bureau

United Way of Lowndes County Privacy Policy
United Way of Lowndes County will never sell, trade, share or rent your personal information to our merchant partners, member agencies or any third parties without your prior consent or as required by law. To be acknowledged for making a designated gift to a funded agency, we will need confirmation from you to provide your contact information to the agency.

Information gathered about you or your business by United Way of Lowndes County is used solely for our purposes to maintain records of contributions as required by our audit firm and by law.

United Way recognizes agencies and businesses that contribute to the annual fund drive in campaign progress reports to the community and at our annual meeting held in March of each year. United Way will honor the wishes of agencies and businesses that choose to remain anonymous. To opt out, simply advise us by contacting the United Way office at (662) 328-0943.

You may find United Way of Lowndes County financial information at GuideStar.org, or visit us at 501 7th street North, Suite 5, Columbus,MS during normal office hours.

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