Pacesetters kick off United Way campaign

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A campaign to raise $2 million in 2006 for the United Way of Morgan County and its 32 participating agencies was kicked off Aug. 15 by a group of pacesetters whose goal is to raise more than a fourth of that amount by Sept. 9.
The pacesetters are business, professional and community organizations whose goal is to raise $594,000 in gifts and pledges from their employees and corporate offices. The goal is 5 percent more than what it was a year ago. Pacesetter organizations consist of Daikin America, 3M, American Red Cross, Boeing Co., Calhoun Community College, Centers for Developmentally Disabled, Cerrowire, Colonial Properties, Community Action Partnership, Compass Bank, The Decatur Daily, Parents and Children Together, local physicians and attorneys, Sexton Foundation, United Way Foundation and Volunteer Center of Morgan County.
A major fundraising event of the pacesetters is the annual Daiken American Invitational Golf Tournament. Last year, it raised $261,000.
Last year’s campaign raised $1.93 million but fell $70,000 short of a $2 million goal.
He also pointed that the United Way and Community Action have entered into a partnership to provide an information and referral service – “211” - for anyone in the county needing health or human services. The new project will be implemented in September. Non-profit agencies of the United Way include Meals on Wheels, Hospice of the Valley and Terrell Industries. The regular UW campaign will kick off Sept. 12 and continue through November.
Newly-elected United Way officers are Joanne Mummert of Colonial Mall, chairwoman Sam McMullen of Publix, vice chairman; David Hadley of Cerrowire; treasurer; and Forrest Keith of Daikin America, secretary.
New board members are Alicia Rice of Compass Bank, Jason Phillips of AmSouth Bank, Tim Robinson of 3M, Vanessa Edmonds of Decatur Career Center, Sedrick Williams of First American Bank, Johnson Ogum of Holiday Inn and Sara Page of McWhorter Communications.