What a year it has been! As John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." In the late summer of 2004 as our Strategic Planning Process neared completion Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne disrupted lives of many in our communities.

Suddenly our newly adopted mission "United Way of Central Florida understands local needs and drives lasting change to build better lives and stronger communities" was affirmed. In the aftermath of Hurricane Charley we immediately focused on working with partners to identify where help was needed most. We engaged in a response that was sustained for months. With many lives disrupted United Way utilized our local agencies to assist and provide necessary resources enabling families to stay together.

The months of August and September taught us another important lesson. As United Way received recognition from the Salvation Army and the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland and others, we realized that we were being lauded for what our community accomplished in response to the hurricanes. Non-profit partners, churches, school groups, local government agencies and especially our corporate partners enthusiastically rallied to assist our entire community. It didn't matter who got credit. It simply mattered that lives were better and communities were strengthened. And the work continues.

The true nature of our community was revealed as no corner of our three county area was spared the destructive forces of the hurricanes. Some of us met our neighbors for the first time as we cleared fallen trees or shared bottled water and candles. Together we discovered "Community."

We are excited to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the United Way of Central Florida. Prior to 1980, the United Ways of the Lake Region, Greater Bartow and Greater Lakeland were separate and distinct. Absent the synergies of unification, it would have been impossible to raise over $8,000,000 in 2004 plus over a million dollars for local hurricane recovery. All accomplished while delivering the life-improving services that benefit local people every day.

As our Anniversary slogan says, "United Way of Central Florida, 25 years and it's just the beginning!"