United Way Celebrates 28 Years of Community Change With Annual Meeting
Monday November 3, 2008
United Way Volunteer of the Year and George W. Jenkins Citizen of the Year Named
Lakeland, Fl – The United Way of Central Florida (UWCF) celebrated another year of community impact at the 2008 Annual Meeting on October 30 at Highland Park Church of the Nazarene.
After a thirty-second LIVE UNITED commercial spot, United Way president Terry Worthington welcomed everyone to the event and asked all to join together and LIVE UNITED by singing the National Anthem.
Andrea Denton, a Loaned Executive (LE) from GEICO introduced the 2008 Loaned Executives and gave a brief overview of the program. Jan Rooney, an LE from State Farm Insurance, provided the invocation.
After dinner, Weymon Snuggs, the chief banking executive of Citizens Bank & Trust and the 2008 United Way resource development chairman, gave an overview of the 2007 and 2008 United Way campaigns. After recognizing the top twelve companies from 2007, Snuggs praised the 2008 Pacesetters and discussed the $8.5 million goal set for 2009.
Steve Moore, owner & CEO of Universal Building Specialties, shared United Way’s newest initiative, Let’s Grow. Every Child. Every Chance. Let’s Grow is an early literacy initiative with a bold and clear goal: to eliminate the gap in early childhood literacy between children from low income and middle/high income levels. Moore discussed the $4.00 to $17.00 return on investment the business community receives for investing in early literacy.
Terry Brigman, director of information technology for the City of Lakeland and 2007 Citizen of the Year recipient, introduced a video that announced Jack Barnhart as the 2008 United Way Citizen of the Year. Jack is the executive director of the East Polk Committee of 100 and former United Way East Polk resource development manager.
He is an active United Way campaign volunteer and serves on a Community Investment Team. He is also an integral part of the loaned executive training program. Jack is an alumnus of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Class XXV and served as Chair of the Leadership Class XXVII. He is active in several chambers of commerce including Winter Haven, Auburndale and Haines City. Barnhart is a member of the Winter Haven Rotary, Polk Vision’s Leadership Polk Class II and Winter Haven’s YMCA Board. Jack has been married to Ann for 31 years, and they have a son and a daughter.
United Way of Central Florida staff members nominate candidates for Citizen of the Year. Ideal candidates are contributors and volunteers involved in United Way in a primary or leadership role over a continuous period of time. Board members are not eligible. The UWCF staff makes the selection.
Cindy Price, regional manager for Tampa Electric Corporation and 2007-08 Board Chair, recognized the United Way of Central Florida Executive Committee members:
Ron Clark, Chair Elect
Dave MacDougall, Vice Chair
Sandra Sheets, Secretary
Dave MacDougall, who also served as Treasurer
Bill Mutz, Campaign Chair
Terry Brigman, Community Investment
Ed Vogel, Community Impact
John Fitzwater, Immediate Past Chair
Edie Yates, senior partner in Baylis and Company PA and 2006 George W. Jenkins Volunteer of the Year recipient, introduced a video naming Dr. Thomas L. Reuschling the 2008 George W. Jenkins Volunteer of the Year. Tom retired as president of Florida Southern College in 2004.
Reuschling was involved in the United Way in Richmond, Virginia before coming to Florida. He has served as a United Way of Central Florida Success By 6 Blue Ribbon Committee member and on the Community Impact Cabinet. He was board chair in 1998 and serves as the Leadership Giving chair for the 2009 campaign. Tom and his wife Dotty have two daughters.
To be considered for this award, candidates must be nominated by past recipients. The candidate’s United Way involvement, as well as other community involvement is a major consideration. The winner must serve as a long-term volunteer for UWCF in a leadership role. Employees of United Way supported agencies are not eligible. The past five recipients of the George W. Jenkins United Way Volunteer of the Year award assume the responsibility of choosing the Volunteer of the Year.
Cindy Price took the stage again to give a brief overview of United Way activities in 2007 and 2008 and Ron Clark, senior partner at Clark, Campbell & Mawhinney, P.A and 2008-09 board chair, discussed the future plans for the organization. Ron closed the program with a special thanks to outgoing board members and all those in attendance.
Event sponsors included: Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc., Mosaic, GEICO, Tampa Electric, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Winter Haven Hospital, Allen & Company of Florida, Bartow Regional Medical Center, Century Realty Funds, Florida Properties & Development, Gray Robinson, PA, Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, Holland & Knight, LLP, Keller Williams, Polk Community College, SunTrust Bank, Mid-Florida, Wachovia Bank, Progress Energy, and Watson Clinic, LLP.
United Way of Central Florida has been serving our local community for 28 years by understanding local needs and driving lasting change to build better lives and stronger communities. For more information about UWCF visit www.uwcf.org or call 863-648-1500.
