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MOBILE, Alabama, March 3, 2010 —
United Way of Southwest Alabama Annual meeting and awards luncheon held at the Mobile Convention Center brought together over 300 business executives, community leaders, volunteers, donors, and community stakeholders from corporations and organizations such as AT&T, Alabama Power, BankTrust, Kimberly Clark, Mobile Gas, RBC Bank, ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA, ThyssenKrupp Steel USA, University of South Alabama, Wachovia Bank, Regions Bank, Whitney National Bank, plus many more.
The awards luncheon highlighted many of the successes experienced during the past twelve months. “This was no small feat considering the economic uncertainty that many are facing in our community,” stated G. Robert Baker, Jr., 2009 United Way Board of Trustees Chair and South Alabama Region President, Whitney National Bank. “Loyal contributors and supporters, however, recognizing the need to maintain services at a high-level, conducted superb campaigns in support United Way, United Way 2-1-1 and our 58 community partner agencies.”
Baker thanked thousands of United Way donors and volunteers, along with the 58 community partner agencies for their role in successfully raising $4.9 million under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Busta, Jr., 2009 Campaign Chair and Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations - University of South Alabama.
“As always, the business community of southwest Alabama has played an invaluable role in our success through more than 700 employee campaigns,” stated Dr. Joseph Busta, Jr., 2009 Campaign Chair. “In addition to maintaining relationships with our loyal supporters, we reached out to corporate friends in the community who had given in the past but not in our most recent campaigns and to neighboring businesses who had never participated in United Way campaigns. The promising momentum of these initiatives demonstrates that we’re on the right track for a stronger future.”
The following individuals and organizations were recognition through the Spirit of the Gulf Coast Awards for exceptional commitment and support of the gulf coast community through their involvement with United Way of Southwest Alabama.
• Regions Bank was selected as the recipient of the 2009 Spirit of the Gulf Coast Award. Regions Bank and its employees exemplify the standards of this award both through their annual campaign efforts and their unmatched level of volunteerism. They consistently rank as one of the top five overall campaigns. Each year, Regions is among the top companies in number of Leadership Givers and Women’s Initiative members. Their employees also spend many hours each year volunteering with Day of Caring, Community Investment Committee, the Loaned Executive program along with many other activities. Furthermore, Regions Bank is a major sponsor of the Women’s Initiative, Young Leaders Society and Leaders in Giving Event.
• FusionPoint Media was selected as the 2009 Creative/Media Award recipient. FusionPoint Media exhibited corporate social responsibility, personal goodwill and philanthropy through their time and creative support for United Way. This was a valuable asset in our goal to create real and lasting change to individuals in the gulf coast community.
• ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA & ThyssenKrupp Steel USA was selected as the 2009 Outstanding New Business Award. From the moment they arrived in our community, ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA and ThyssenKrupp Steel USA formed a partnership with United Way. Even before their facilities were built and all their employees were hired, both companies ran model employee campaigns and were among the Top 50 overall giving organizations in just their first year. In addition, ThyssenKrupp is a partner with United Way in many other areas including membership on the Board of Trustees, involvement in the Young Leaders Society and were the largest contributor to the Live United Through Reading Book Drive collecting over 1,800 books for first graders in our community.
• Long’s Human Resource Services was selected as the 2009 Outstanding Small Business Award. Of the organizations with 25 or fewer employees who support our United Way, none is more involved than Long’s Human Resource Services. They are instrumental in campaign leadership and in organizational leadership. Long’s employees consistently rank as one of the top campaigns in both participation level and per capita giving. In addition, their volunteer leadership is present throughout United Way organization especially the Board of Trustees, Major Giving and Women’s Initiative.
• Joe Bullard Automotive was selected as the 2009 Outstanding Campaign Effort Award. This award is given to Joe Bullard Automotive for their unwavering devotion to the United Way campaign. Despite current economic conditions and automotive industry challenges, they continue to strive to maximize their annual campaign support as seen in the company’s ability to increase the average gift of its employees for each of the last five years. Their continued success starts with the commitment of Mr. Joe Bullard, the leadership of their management team and their campaign coordinators who conduct employee rallies at each Joe Bullard Automotive location.
• Cathy DeGruy - RBC Bank was awarded the 2009 Loaned Executive of the Year. Cathy exhibited excellent communication and fundraising skills during her Loaned Executive tenure. She provided exemplary support for her campaign accounts, communicated effectively with both Employee Campaign Coordinators and United Way staff, attended multiple campaign rallies and regularly attended report meetings as well as reported her assigned campaign results on time.
• Tracy Coleman, University of South Alabama was selected as the 2009 Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year. Conducting one of the largest United Way campaign solicitations with over 4,000 employees is no easy task. However, Tracy has successfully coordinated the University of South Alabama campaign for many years. Each year she ensures model campaign practices are utilized throughout the university including targeted leadership giving solicitations and an annual Women’s Initiative event. Through Tracy’s efforts, the participation of university employees has increased each of the last five years.
Over 160 local businesses and organizations were also recognized for their financial impact on the community.
Members of the Board of Trustees were recognized for their leadership during the past year. Baker presented Board member Dr. Joseph Busta, Jr., a token of recognition for his service as the 2009 Campaign Chair. Board members whose terms are ending were recognized and thanked.
Terry H. Harbin, 2010 newly elected Board of Trustees Chair, and President, BankTrust presented G. Robert baker, Jr., a token of recognition for his two year service in the role of Board of Trustees Chair. Joel T. Daves, IV, South Alabama Area President, Regions Bank, was introduced as the 2010 Campaign Chair.
As part of the annual meeting activities, United Way elected new board members and honored outgoing board members:
OFFICERS – BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Terry H. Harbin – BankTrust - Chair
Dr. Joseph F. Busta, Jr.- University of South Alabama - Vice Chair
Melissa C. Beard - Beard Equipment Company -- Secretary
Cedric Hatcher - RBC Bank – Treasurer
G. Robert Baker, Jr. - Whitney National Bank -- Immediate Past Chair
New Trustees Nominated to serve a 3-Year Term expiring in 2013
Edward H. O’Gwynn, III - BB&T Bank
George Watson - Kimberly-Clark
New Trustees—Ex-Officio
Joel T. Daves, IV – Regions Bank – 2010 Campaign Chair
Kristen DeLaney –Beard Equipment - Young Leaders Society
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